Baseball/Fox Valley roundup
Elgin 6, Streamwood 5: Matt Karinski went 4-for-4 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI, and the senior delivered the game-winning hit in the top of the ninth inning as Elgin knocked off Streamwood in the Upstate Eight River opener for both teams Tuesday. Jack Koeckritz went 3-for-4 with 2 doubles and drove in a run, and winning pitcher Kiko Mari (1-2) held the Sabres to 2 earned runs on 7 hits in 8 innings to earn the win for Elgin (4-6, 2-5). Junior Jon Nelson pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his second save. Eric Hamlin went 2-for-4 with a double and a walk and scored twice, and reliever Kevin Drwal took the loss in relief for Streamwood (4-9, 2-5).
West Chicago 5, Bartlett 0: Jake Barrutia went 2-for-3 with a double, but the Hawks managed only 3 hits against winning pitcher Fred Gosbeth and reliever Antonio Solis in this Upstate Eight River defeat. Doug VanDyke took the loss for Bartlett (4-7, 3-5). He allowed 5 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits and 2 walks and struck out a pair.
Dundee-Crown 4, Crystal Lake South 2: Nine Chargers collected 10 hits and three pitchers combined to hold the Gators to 2 earned runs on 7 hits in this Fox Valley Conference Valley Division opener. Sam Ray went 2-for-3. Ahren Ludwig (4 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K) was the winning pitcher for Dundee-Crown (8-7, 5-1). Michael Avella and AJ Howaniec drove in runs and Josh Smith took the loss for CL South (7-5, 5-2).
Prairie Ridge 4, Cary-Grove 1: Jason Barrett had the only multihit game and Andrew Splitt drove in the only run in this FVC Valley opener for both teams. Splitt took the loss after allowing 4 earned runs on 4 hits. He walked three and struck out six in 6 innings for Cary-Grove (8-8, 2-3).
Hampshire 5, Grayslake North 4: With the bases loaded and two away in the bottom of the seventh, Michael Merchut singled home 2 runs to lead the Whip-Purs to a walk-off victory in the FVC Fox opener. Trey Schramm doubled and drove in 2 runs, and winning pitcher Colin Gogoel allowed an earned run on 2 hits in 1⅓ relief innings for Hampshire (4-9, 1-6).
Aurora Central Catholic 7, St. Edward 6: The Chargers scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to win a wild one in the Suburban Christian Gold. St. Edward scored a run in the top of the seventh, but ACC tied it up in its half. The Wave took a 6-5 lead in the eighth when Ryan Nudd scored on an error. Relief pitcher Nick Bouley took the loss for St. Edward (3-11-1, 2-4).
Westminster Christian 5, Alden-Hebron 3: Ian Merlak's RBI single keyed a 3-run top of the fourth inning as the Warriors snapped a 1-1 tie and went on to win this Northeastern Athletic matchup. Winning pitcher Justin Rasmussen held the Giants to 1 unearned run on 3 hits and 6 walks and he struck out 7 in 5 innings for the Warriors (5-12).