Two-out runs key Neuqua Valley win over Glenbard East
Senior Zach Herdman was groomed to take over as the leadoff hitter for the Neuqua Valley baseball team this season.
On Wednesday he contributed offensively in a different fashion.
Herdman was 3-for-4 with a triple and 4 runs batted in as the Wildcats defeated Glenbard East 12-8 in Upstate Eight River action in Lombard.
While batting first like usual, Herdman collected all of his hits and RBI with two outs. Neuqua (24-8, 17-6) scored its final 10 runs after two outs.
"All with two outs? It's just where I got our timing. I'm in the batter's box competing. I got my pitch and hit it," Herdman said.
"I'm a leadoff hitter and I try to get on base as much as possible, but I'm really just being a teammate and trying to keep our team up and rolling to win the game. That's the job of any player on our team."
There was plenty of offensive help. Winning pitcher Alex DiFranco and Kevin Ringlein also had two hits in the 12-hit attack and Will Drake smacked a 2-run single for the game's first runs.
Trailing 12-2, Glenbard East (17-14, 13-10) extended the game thanks to a 3-run fifth that included Michael Sebby's fourth homer this season. Sebby was 2-for-2 with 2 walks. Justin Griffin, Joey Moore and Bryan Andrews had 2 hits apiece and Phil Abruzino doubled.
The Rams added three more runs in the sixth but went down in order in the seventh after a double play and running catch by center fielder and Eastern Illinois recruit Tyler Tesmond for the final out.
"It's really easy to fold, down that early in the game, so I was really proud of everyone just sticking with it and fighting and making a game of it," Glenbard East coach Joel Pelland said. "Looking at the scorebook, you've got to do a lot of little things right. They scored a lot of runs on errors and hit batsmen (3 each) and walks (4)."
Cold temperatures, wind and a steady rain until the sixth didn't help anybody. The conditions certainly contributed to some of the inconsistent play and the Wildcats' four errors during the Rams' two-inning comeback.
"We lost focus and that's not a good thing this time of year," Neuqua coach Robin Renner said. "This is not an easy day to play. It's cold, miserable, raining. You see your breath on May 20th. But offensively I thought we competed in the box all game."
Neuqua pulled ahead 9-0 with a four-run second and five-run third and added what proved to be an important three-run fifth. Herdman and Ringlein delivered back-to-back RBI singles in the second and fifth.
"(Last year Herdman) didn't get a lot of playing time, but he's been rock solid all year. We hoped he would lead off for us, and he has been and been on base a lot," Renner said.
DiFranco stranded four runners over the first two innings, three in scoring position, before Griffin's two-out, 2-run double in the third.
Tesmond threw out the game's first potential run at home for the second out of the first inning. The fourth opened with Herdman making a diving catch in left field on a ball twisted by the elements.
"When it's up past 45 feet in the air, the ball is just turning in a lot of wind up there," Herdman said. "It's a really tough day to play baseball so a hard catch, I made it."
With the final conference game today, Neuqua clinched at worst a share of second place behind champion Waubonsie Valley. Glenbard East is tied for fourth with Metea Valley, which finishes with Bartlett (12-11).
The Rams, who beat Neuqua 7-6 Tuesday, have been getting strong seasons from Sebby, leadoff hitter Ryan Schefske, shortstop Bryce Roberts and catcher Griffin.
On Wednesday Griffin played first base after receiving seven stitches following a collision at home plate Monday. Neuqua catcher Matt Gould left the game in the sixth after taking a foul ball on the instep of his right foot.