Baseball: Barrington shuts out Rolling Meadows

While the hitting has been key for Barrington the past few weeks, it was the pitching of Nate Holler that took center stage for the Broncos Thursday.

Holler fanned 12 and scattered 3 hits and Andres Reaume came on in the seventh and struck out three as Barrington bolted past Rolling Meadows 8-0 in a Mid-Suburban League baseball game at Barrington.

"In the strike zone I was pounding everything," Holler said. "I got the slider going and the changeup was looking real good today. Bit it was also nice to have a lead behind me."

Barrington is putting together its own version of "Murderer's Row" this season. It was on display again Thursday when the Broncos banged out 18 hits. The Broncos (15-3, 4-1) have also been a running scoring machine in their last 16 games

After opening the season with 6 runs in their first two games, Barrington has been on fire at the plate. The Broncos have averaged over 11 runs in the last 16 games. They have also averaged 12 runs in their five MSL contests.

"We are trying to take care of what we need to do," Barrington coach Pat Wire said. "We try to go up and never get cheated at bat."

Wire also said he knows the tides of baseball can change quickly.

"It is nice," Wire said. "But by the same token, we live by one game at a time. You can't carry those hits with you and you can't carry those runs with you. You just don't try to press and do anything that is different."

Barrington had just 2 extra-base hits Thursday but five players with multiple-hit days. Nicholas Nehf and Max Raynor each had 4 hits, including a double for each. Will Koehler had 3 hits while Rayth Petersen and Jonny Gardner each had 2 hits.

"It was great to get back in the lineup," said Nehf, who responded big-time with his start behind the plate. "I know I have the capability to be with these guys and I had a fun time out there."

Barrington had opportunities to break the game open early. The Broncos had 2 hits in each of the first two innings. But baserunning gaffes in each inning ended those threats. The Broncos would later have two other runners thrown out on the bases to squash other rallies.

Barrington finally was able to put things together in the third inning.

The Broncos parlayed 6 singles, with an error and a hit batter, to score 6 runs. Raynor, Koehler and Nehf each drove a run in with singles. Gardner drove in 2 runs with a single and John Seagrist got an RBI being hit by a pitch.

Barrington added 4 more runs in the seventh as Luke Kozlowski, who had doubled, and Nehf, who singled, each scored on an error. Raynor also doubled home a pair of runs.

"I was impressed with (starting pitcher) Sean Budin," Rolling Meadows coach Matt Rice said. "He threw a lot of first pitch strikes and gave us a chance. We just couldn't get it done with the sticks. We came up and made the plays we could make and I couldn't be prouder."

Rolling Meadows (2-13, 0-5) got 2 hits from Jacob Wright.