Baseball: Elk Grove stretches MSL title streak to three

For the second consecutive year, Christian Camacho and Elk Grove stymied Barrington.

Camacho was the macho man that everyone expected him to be: The Auburn-bound righty scattered 3 hits while striking out eight as Elk Grove knocked off host Barrington 1-0 in the Mid-Suburban League baseball title game in Barrington before a crowd of nearly 1,000.

It was the second year in a row Camacho and the Grenadiers had beaten Barrington in the title game with Elk Grove winning 7-3 last year. And it was the third year in a row that Elk Grove has won the MSL title.

Elk Grove becomes the first MSL baseball team that can say "Three-peat."

"It feels great," said Camacho, who was the winning pitcher last year and was a starting second baseman for the team that beat Schaumburg for the title two years ago. "I was able to calm down and relax out there. I have been here before and I just needed to slow myself down."

Camacho, who is 10-1, slowed the MSL West champion down the entire game. He allowed just one base runner to reach third in the game, and that was with two outs in the seventh. He got the final Broncos batter to bounce softly back to him to end the game on his best pitch of the day - the curveball.

"It was really good," Camacho said. "It felt good coming out of my hand today. My fastball was also good because I was able to locate spots with it."

Elk Grove catcher Jack McEnroe said catching Camacho is easy.

"It is very nice catching a guy who hits his spots all the time," McEnroe said. "His curveball always does what it is supposed to do and his fastball has great location."

Elk Grove coach Terry Beyna, whose team improved to 21-12, said Camacho has been solid for the Grens the last two seasons.

"Christian has been doing it for us for a long time," Beyna said. "There is not another guy you would want to have the ball but him."

Camacho and Barrington starter Brooks Gosswein battled for 6 scoreless innings before Gosswein gave way to Jake Zyzda in the seventh.

"You hate to see someone lose here," Beyna said. "Their guy was extremely good. We just made plays when we had to."

Elk Grove had scoring opportunities in each of the first five innings. But Gosswein and the Barrington defense stepped up when needed.

In the second inning, Barrington shortstop Zack Balogh threw out AJ Navarro at the plate on a groundball. Then, on an attempted double steal, Patrick Dehnert threw out Austin Brown at the plate to end that threat.

In the fourth, Chuck Fleming led off with a double to center. Fleming attempted to go to third, but a perfect relay throw by Tyler Acosta to Tristan Michaels to Blake Swanson at third got the sliding Fleming.

Not to be outdone, Broncos right field Jimmy Day made a diving catch to save a run with Camacho, who had reached with his third hit of the day, on second base with two outs.

Camacho also pitched his way out of a Barrington scoring opportunity in the sixth when Jeff Korus singled and Acosta reached on a hit batter. Camacho got a long flyball and strikeout to end that threat.

Elk Grove finally broke through in the seventh, scoring the game's only run without a hit.

Navarro reached on a hit batter and Jacob Sokol walked to lead off the inning. With Ryan Uehara attempting to bunt, Navarro, reading the Barrington defense which was rotating to cover, stole third base. He then scored on Uehara's groundout.

"I went on my own," Navarro said. "We needed a run and I needed to be aggressive. I saw the third baseman break in on the bunt. I was expecting the bunt, but when he pulled back, I just kept coming."

Barrington coach Pat Wire, who team is now 25-8, said his team played very well.

"I thought our guys played great," Wire said. "Camacho was terrific and so were our guys. The best thing about Mid-Suburban League baseball is that it gives you a free preview for playoff intensity, so I am happy for our guys.

"We made plays and had chances and I thought we made some great plays defensively to keep us in the game."

Beyna, who won his 300th career game last week, was humbled that his team became the first MSL team to win three consecutive titles.

"I am extremely proud," Beyna said. "From where we came with this program to now, it is quite a feat for us."

Before the game Barrington and the MSL honored former Daily Herald prep sports editor Bob Frisk, who threw out the first pitch in celebration of his 80th birthday.