Stevenson's Allen shuts down No. 24 Libertyville

April 24, 2013

By Sean Duncan
Executive Director

LINCOLNSHIRE – For years, Stevenson has always been a mainstay in the state rankings, typically loaded with arms and college-bound players up and down the lineup. This season, however, the Patriots have uncharacteristically struggled with a young, inexperienced team.

On Wednesday, Stevenson looked like the teams from yesteryear, as it received a stellar pitching performance from senior right-hander Matt Allen to blank No. 24 Libertyville, 2-0, in a North Suburban Lake contest.

Allen (3-2) pounded the strike zone all game, yielding seven hits – three of which should’ve been outs – and struck out six with no walks and hit one batter. The 6-foot-1, 165-pound Allen, who’s committed to Iowa, kept Libertyville (11-3-1, 2-1) off balance with a three-pitch mix, leaning heavily on an effective curveball which he consistently located on both sides of the plate.

Allen’s performance negated a solid outing by Libertyville junior right-hander Jeff Barton (2-1). The 6-foot-4, 195-pound Barton yielded 10 hits in his complete-game effort. He struck out three and walked none.

Stevenson (7-6, 4-1) jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first inning, ignited by junior outfielder Austin Black’s misplayed double. Black scored on junior first baseman Mitchell Goll’s two-out single.

The score remained 1-0 until Stevenson added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on senior catcher Greg Voss’ double. Sophomore shortstop Jimmy Marchese and junior DH Zach Novoselsky each had two hits for the Patriots in the game.

Libertyville was led by junior left-handed hitting catcher Evan Skoug, who went 2-for-3.