By Drake Skleba

LISLE – There is something about Lisle Community Park Field No. 7 that Aurora Christian’s senior SS Josh Haugen loves. On May 21, 2011, at the home of the Lisle Lions, Haugen hit a 3-2 fastball over the centerfield fence to give his Eagles the 2011 Lisle Class 2A Regional championship.

Retuning to the scene of his epic moment from ’11, Haugen had a 4-for-4 afternoon and was just a triple shy of hitting for the cycle, to lead No. 50 Aurora Christian to a 9-1 victory over the hosts from Lisle. NIU-bound LHP Bobby Kuntzendorf (2-0) was dominant in firing a two-hitter at the Lions, with a dozen strikeouts.

After one out in the top of the first inning, Eagle sophomore RF J.T. Baksha (2-for-4, 2R) singled to right. Haugen and Baksha trotted around the bases after Haugen struck again with a two-run bomb to left. It was the second round-tripper of the season for the hard-hitting Eagle shortstop.

“I do like this place,” said Haugen. “After my last hit, Mitch (Holtz) was telling me when I am looking for a triple to hit for the cycle, I should just keep running. Bobby threw another great game for us and we all really hit.”

Lisle cut the Eagle lead in half when the Lions picked up the only two hits and run against Kuntzendorf. Lion junior CF Ryan Van Volkenburg and senior 1B

Ty Howell hit back-to back doubles, to bring the Lions within 2-1.

Haugen plated his third run of the game when he doubled home Eagle junior CF Ian Livingston (2-for-4, 2R), who had singled for a 3-1 Eagle lead.

The Eagles put the game away in the fifth with a big four spot to open a 7-1 lead. Haugen drove home his fourth run of the game with a single and Valparaiso-bound Eagle C Jake Hanson followed with a big two-run single to increase the lead to 6-1. Junior LF Brandon Walgren plated the final run of the frame with a sac-fly.

Meanwhile on the mound, Kuntzendorf was dealing. Finishing up with 5 2/3 innings of hitless-baseball, the hard-throwing Eagle picked up 10 of his 12 strikeouts.

“We really have been stepping up in our practices and it carried over today on the field,” said Kuntzendorf. “I felt really good today and I love humid weather. It really helped me stay loose and I pitched well.” 

In the top of the seventh, Hanson let Haugen trot around the bases after his fourth hit when Hanson deposited the baseball in a similar location as to Haugen’s earlier blast. The home run was No. 2 on the season for Hanson.

“Bobby threw strikes and we really put pressure on them with our bats,” said Hanson. “Bobby threw hard and threw what I think is the best breaking-ball in the state. I hit the ball hard all day today.”

Aurora Christian improves to 4-1 on the season with the win.

“We really played a complete game today,” said Aurora Christian head coach Andy Zorger. “It started with Bobby throwing strikes today. One through nine we had good at bats. Josh Haugen really likes hitting here."

Lisle falls to 4-3 on the campaign for head coach Pete Meyer

“We have to get better,” said Meyer. “Kuntzendorf is a great pitcher but we still have to improve.”