Baseball: Barrington tops Palatine to close in on MSL West title
Ryan Jenkins jacked Barrington to being one win away from the Mid-Suburban West baseball title on Wednesday.
Jenkins, a senior, blasted a 3-run homer, his first of the season, in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Broncos rallied for an 8-6 win over Palatine in Barrington.
"That was a big home run," said Jenkins, who had 3 of Barrington's 11 hits.
"I was glad I was able to give us the lead. It was a curveball that I actually sat back on. I was trying to get under it a little bit and get us a run. I ended up getting all of it."
Barrington (15-2, 11-1) needs just a win in one of the final four conference games that remain to win its eighth consecutive MSL West title. The Broncos have games remaining with Elk Grove on Friday, Wheeling on Saturday and Hoffman Estates next Monday and Wednesday.
"We still have to win one," Barrington coach Pat Wire said. "You can't take anything for granted in this game."
Palatine (13-7, 8-4), which lost to Barrington 22-1 on Monday, bounced back quickly on Wednesday. Tyler Pecson lofted a home run to left field to make it 1-0. The ball landed in an open field that used to be covered in large trees.
Barrington tallied three times in its half of the inning. Nick Lacson, who had 2 hits in the day, singled and later scored on a wild pitch. Ryan Koehler, who reached on a fielder's choice, scored on the back end of a double steal when he went home on a throw to second. Evan Jon-Baptiste, who also had 2 hits, singled home JD Swarbrick to make it 3-1.
Palatine rallied to tie it in the third. Danny Hopper had a bases-loaded single, scoring Tyler Klipowicz and Luke Seiffert, both of whom had singled earlier.
Barrington jumped ahead 5-3 in the fifth when an errant 2-out throw extended the inning. That allowed Jenkins, who had singled, to score and Lacson to get on base. After a wild pitch, Jake Kohanzo singled home Lacson.
"I was seeing the ball well today," said Kohanzo, who had 3 hits on the day. "I was sitting deep thinking about going the opposite way. If he throws inside, I was taking it that way."
Palatine came back again. The Pirates tied the game in the top of the sixth when Brendan Meyers drilled a 2-run home run to right to tie the game at 5-5. Palatine then took the lead as Klipowicz singled home Ryan Dysangco.
Barrington was not to be denied. Swarbrick and Jon-Baptiste both singled to start the inning. They were at second and third after a balk when Jenkins' homer put the Broncos up for good.
"This was a good chance for us to practice a playoff game element in which you have to be able to come back," Wire said. "I told the guys that we had two chances to score and we did it."
Palatine coach Paul Belo, whose team had 11 hits, was pleased about how his team fought back after Monday's loss.
"Our kids showed their mettle," Belo said. "It is all about us challenging them and they delivered. I felt our kids were pretty relentless at the plate."