Baseball: Vernon Hills gets back on winning track
Less than 24 hours after suffering its first loss of the season, Vernon Hills' baseball team rebounded in a big way.
The Cougars scored 7 runs in the first inning en route to a 15-2 win in five innings over Stranahan (Miami) in the Hall of Fame Classic in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Tuesday.
Danny Wizceb (1-for-2, double), Caleb Thomson (1-for-2, triple, run, 2 RBI) and Jack Barszcz (1-for-2, double, 2 runs, RBI) each had extra-base hits. In total, 12 Cougars had hits in the game.
Derek Jarrell (2-0) earned te win, pitching 3 scoreless innings of 1-hit ball with 5 strikeouts and no walks.
Vernon Hills improved to 5-1 on the year and will take on Miami Christian on Wednesday.
Grant 11, Dundee-Crown 3: At Rent One Park in downstate Marion, the Bulldogs improved to 3-1 on the season behind 4 strong innings from Anthony Figueroa on the hill.
Figuera (1-0) picked up the win, allowing just 1 run and striking out three, and Joe Gorden worked a solid fifth. Jimmy Taylor had 3 hits, including a double and triple, driving in two for Grant. Mikal Ashley (1-for-1, walk, 2 RBI) and Carlos Martinez (2-for-3, 3 RBI) both tripled for the Bulldogs.
Libertyville 7, Boulder 4: In Arizona, Andrew Kim went 3-for-3 with a double, 2 runs scored and an RBI for the Wildcats.
James Schmidt (1-for-2, RBI) and Tanner Kelly (1-for-3, RBI) also doubled for Libertyville. Ryan Klainos picked up the win, allowing 1 hit and 1 run over 4 innings, striking out seven and walking six. Sam Paden threw the final 1⅔ innings, striking out two, to earn the save.
Warren 3, Prairie Ridge 2: At Rent One Park in downstate Marion, Casey Cobe tripled for the Blue Devils, who improved to 3-1.
Ryan Scanlon picked up the win, and Brad Vondruska notched the save.
Grayslake Central 11, Orange (New Jersey) 2: In Florida, leadoff hitter Eric Sturm was 3-for-4, and Marcus Maristella went 1-for-4 with 3 stolen bases and 2 RBI for the Rams.
Coby Moe (2 innings, 1 hit, 2 strikeouts, 0 walks) and Ethan Peterson (3 innings, 1 hit, 7 strikeouts, 1 walk) pitched shutout ball in relief.
Wauconda 8, Dundee-Crown 7: At Rent One Park in downstate Marion, Keegan Henley went 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Bulldogs, who scored all of their runs in the bottom of the third inning.
Tyler Heinz and Sam Kuch (double) both went 3-for-3 for Wauconda, whose other contributors included Camden Janik (1-for-3, 2 RBI), Marcus Keller (2-for-4, triple, stolen base RBI) and Drew Coe (1-for-2, double, 2 RBI). Clark Morgan pitched 5 innings for the win, and Marcus Sperling threw the final two for the save.
Cary-Grove 5, Wauconda 0: At Rent One Park in downstate Marion, Camden Janik and Jacob Jensen had the only hits for the Bulldogs.
Prairie Ridge 8, Mundelein 3: At Rent One Park in downstate Marion, Christian Diaz led the Mustang' attack in their loss, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Mason Schultz was 2-for-3.
Jacobs 8, Mundelein 2: At Rent One Park in downstate Marion, Justin Binz had a double and an RBI for the Mustangs.
Colin Hagen allowed just 1 runs in 3 innings of relief.