PBR DAILY ROUNDUP

BY DRAKE SKLEBA
SENIOR WRITER

Games from March 22

Nonconference

No. 4 Mount Carmel 9, Bremen 3

The fourth-ranked Caravan opened up its season with a thrilling come-from-behind victory on Friday at Haggerty Field. Bremen (0-1) scored single runs in the first three innings to grab a quick 3-0 lead. The Caravan tied things up at 3, with a pair of runs in the third and a single tally in the fourth.

A six-run, sixth inning explosion broke the game open and Mount Carmel (1-0) rolled to a 9-3 victory. Sophomore Joshua Stowers had three hits, including a pair of doubles and two RBI in his first varsity game, to lead the Caravan attack. Junior Jason Wirtel hammered a two-run shot that left the Haggerty Field premises. University of Oregon-bound SS Jerry Houston and senior Jason Gasser each had two hits. Gasser added an RBI. Senior RHP Joe Kennedy (1-0) fired four spotless innings of relief allowing just one hit to pick up the win.

Bremen (0-1) was led by senior Eric West who had an RBI triple for the Braves.

No. 5 Normal West 4, Peoria Richwoods 0

Normal West (2-1) defeated Peoria Richwoods 4-0 behind 6-3, 225-pound junior RHP Reed Rogers. Rogers (1-0) blanked the Knights through six innings, allowing just one hit with four strikeouts. University of Illinois-bound RHP Matt James came in the seventh to finish off the

Knights. Brushing off the effects of the flu-bug, James fired a perfect inning to wrap up the game. The stocked Wildcat pitching staff has yet to allow an earned run in 2013. Normal West will travel to Lincoln to face the 5-0 Railsplitters today at 11.

No. 6 St. Laurence 10, Lake View 0 (5 innings)

Purdue-recruit junior RHP Mike Kornacker fired a five-inning no-hitter, as the sixth-ranked St. Laurence (1-0) crushed Lake View 10-0. Kornacker helped himself by plating three Viking runs. The Vikings will host No. 8 Simeon at Viking Field at 11 on Saturday. The PBR’s Drake Skleba will be there. You can also watch live at www.highschoolcube.com. The St. Laurence Sports Network will have the call.

No. 9 St. Rita 16, Kenwood 6 (5 innings)

St. Rita (3-0) romped past Kenwood 16-6 in five innings on Friday. Senior Troy Payton led the Mustang attack. Junior RHP Nick Goldsmith (1-0) picked up the win for the Mustangs.

No. 31 Alton 3, Jerseyville 1

Alton (5-0) broke up a 1-1 tie with a two-run outburst in the bottom of the sixth and went on to defeat Jerseyville 3-1 on Friday. Redbird junior SS Clint Cress won it for Alton with a clutch two-run double in the fateful sixth. Senior Brad Henry (2-0) allowed one run and four hits in his quality six-inning start. Henry struck out nine.

No. 45 Troy-Triad 3, Mount Vernon 1

The Knights improved to 3-0 with a hard-fought 3-1 win over a solid Mount Vernon team in Troy on Friday. The Knights were led by seniors, Ty Carpenter, Cody Massey and J.T. Barras, who each drove home a Knight run.

Senior Jordan Felax improved to 2-0 on the mound allowing one run and four hits in his five innings of work.

Mount Vernon (3-2) was led by senior Clayton Reeves who had a single and two stolen bases for the Rams.

Jacksonville 9, Geneva 6

Jacksonville (4-0) defeated Geneva and No. 2 2013 RHP Andy Honiotes on Friday night in Jacksonville. Mitch Endrukitis led the Crimson attack with three hits driving home a run and scoring two. Floyd Lundine had a big two-run triple for Jacksonville.

Honiotes (0-1) started for the Vikings and gave up three runs, two earned in his 2 1/3 innings of work. Mitch Endriukitis led the Geneva (0-1) attack with three hits, including a double and an RBI. Luke Polishak chipped in with a pair of RBI.

Richards 13, Scott (KY) 2

The Bulldogs opened up their season in Kentucky with an 11-2 thumping of Scott (KY) on Friday. Junior Danny Estrella and senior Eric Hall each had a pair of hits and drove home three to lead the Bulldog attack. Senior 1B Anthony Smith added two hits and two RBI. Senior Tyler Fortier (1-0) allowed no earned runs and two hits in four innings of work with five strikeouts.

Danville 2, Springfield 1  

Danville’s (1-0) Southern Mississippi-bound C Chuckie Robinson’s two-run triple in the third was the difference for the Vikings. The game was played in the Jacksonville High School Tournament at Lentz Field in Jacksonville. Springfield falls to 1-2.

Benton 10, Carmi 7

The Ranger bats exploded for 10 runs and nine hits on Friday at Carmi. Nate Higgins led Benton (2-3) with a pair of hits, including a double with three RBI. Senior Cameron Rock added two hits and two RBI and Ranger senior RF Zack Mocaby chipped in with a pair of hits and two RBI. Sophomore RHP Dakota Head evened up his record at 1-1 with the win. Freshman Dillan Chamness nailed down the save for the Rangers.

Galesburg 10, Dixon 0

Galesburg (1-1) blasted Dixon 10-0 in the Streaks Early Season Invite in Galesburg on Friday.

Silver Streak Nick Foster cleared the bases with a huge three-run double in the eight-run Streak second inning. Drew Diaz had a perfect 2-for-2 day at the plate with two RBI. WIU-bound LHP Carson Cheesman (1-0) fanned seven in his three spotless innings allowing just one hit to pick up the win.

Lincoln 3, No. 29 Bloomington 1

The Railsplitters improved to 5-0 with an impressive win over No. 29 Bloomington on Friday.

Collin Antoine led the Lincoln attack with three hits. Bloomington (2-3) was once again led by senior Roman Visintine who had three hits.

Johnsburg 2, Bloomington Central Catholic 1 (8 innings)

The Skyhawk’s scored the game-winner in the bottom of the eighth to stun Bloomington Central Catholic in Jacksonville on Friday. Saint senior Matt Rave went deep for the only BCC run. Illinois Wesleyan-bound RHP Sean Coonan started for the Saints and threw four shutout innings allowing one hit with seven strikeouts. 

Taylorville 8, Mount Zion 7

The Tornados outlasted Mount Zion 8-7 on Friday. Sean Olivia led the Taylorville (2-0) attack with two hits and two RBI. Blake Peters picked up the win on the mound . Mount Zion falls to 2-1.

Waterloo 10, Trenton Wesclin 0 (5 innings)

Waterloo (2-0) smashed Trenton-Wesclin 10-0 in five innings on Friday. Sophomore Jonny Albers, junior Alex Wittenauer and sophomore Sean O’ Guin, each plated a pair of runs for the victorious Knights. Junior starting and winning pitcher Jeremy Rettig (1-0) fired four innings allowing just two hits to pick up the win.