Baseball: Scouting the MSL championship game

Baseball: Scouting the MSL chamiponship game

Barrington (26-7, 15-1) at Prospect (17-10, 13-3)When: 4:30 p.m. Friday

Where: Prospect

Previous meeting: Barrington topped Prospect 9-8 in 9 innings in a game that lasted over two different days in a game that used 11 different pitchers. The game was suspended for darkness with the score tied 8-8 after 7 innings.

Last MSL title appearance: Barrington has been there 3 of the last 4 years and lost each time. Prospect beat Palatine in 2012.

Starting pitchers: Both teams will start pitchers that were voted all-conference. Barrington goes with Ryan Loutos (8-0, 50 IP, 74K, .560 ERA, .600 WHIP), who was co-player of the tear in the MSL West. The Broncos will also have all-conference choice Brooks Gosswein (5-2, 37 IP, 48K, 2.46 ERA, 1.32 WHIP) available. Prospect will start Ryan Howe (5-1, 39 IP, 29K, 1.08 ERA, .897 WHIP), and Ben Courtney (7-1, 41 IP, 41K, 1.19 ERA, .766 WHIP) will also be available if needed. They, too, are all-MSL choices.

Hitters: Both teams have featured some mighty sticks this year.

Barrington is hitting .319 and is led by Will Yorton (.419 BA, .485 OBP, 4 HR, 29 RBI) who was named co-MSL West player of the year with Loutos. Jeff Korus (.404 BA, .504 OBP, 0 HR, 21 RBI) and Tyler Trojan (.371 BA, .434 OBP, 0 HR, 16 RBI) and Blake Gosswein (.375 BA, .486 OBP, 1 HR, 26 RBI) were also named all-conference. Tyler Acosta (.298, .404, 2 HR, 19 RBI), who missed a few games with an injury, is also a huge threat. Clark Elliot (.375), David Mitchell (.324), Eric Kozlowski (.306) and Sean Davis (.320) will also look to contribute for the Broncos.

Prospect is batting .314. The Knights are led by all-conference selections Grant Whitebloom (.462 BA, .607 OBP, 1 HR, 19 RBI), Rich Baczek (.400 BA, .452 OBP, 0 HR, 15 RBI), Howe (.326 BA, .373 OBP, 0 HR, 24 RBI), Grant Zellmer (.282 BA, .462 OBP, 1 HR, 13 RBI) and Ryan Roggeman (.317 BA, .400 OBP, 3 HR, 24 RBI). John Morgan (.308), Nick DeCapri (.323), Nick Ergastolo (.200) and John Czeslawski (.297) will also be in the mix for the Knights.

They said it: Barrington coach Pat Wire - "We are proud to be making a third consecutive appearance in the title game, but truthfully each Barrington team is different in its own right. This Barrington team is eager play this Friday against a highly respected Prospect program headed by Ross Guisti. We know we have our work cut out for us and look forward to embracing the challenge. They do all of the little things right - they have great pitching, they hit well, and they pick it well. The atmosphere should make for an outstanding game to be a spectator at."

Prospect coach Ross Giusti - "It's great to be able to play a game with a lot at stake It will be similar to a regional-type setting. Both teams played a great game the last time we played, so we are expecting another battle. It will come down to pitching and defense for sure."

Background: When the two teams met earlier this year, both teams started their No. 3 pitchers and went from there. On Friday, it will be all aces for Barrington and Prospect. With strong arms on the bump and much cooler temps and a wind blowing in, figure for a low-scoring game.

- Dick Quagliano