Buffalo Grove Claims MSL Championship Over Barrington

BARRINGTON, IL - MSL East Champs Buffalo Grove (25-5) travelled to Barrington (19-7-2), the MSL West Champs, to do battle for MSL Championship on Thursday afternoon. Buffalo Grove, making their first title appearance since 2002, rode a strong outing from RHP Zach Fricke (Valparaiso commit), to capture the title 6-2 over Barrington.

The Bison of Buffalo Grove got on the board first in the top of the third inning. DH Tyler Concialdi led off the inning by reaching base safely on a drop third strike. He then advanced to second base on a balk. Barrington starting pitcher Rami Fakhoury was able to get the next to batters out before Buffalo Grove three-hitter Riley Rundquist stepped up to the plate. Rundquist saw something he liked and hammered a low and inside fastball off the center field wall for an RBI double.

Barrington responded quickly though, capturing the lead in the fourth inning with two runs. 2B Clark Elliot (Michigan commit) drew a walk to lead the inning off, then 1B David Mitchell took a pitch to the opposite-field to set up second and third with one out.

Fricke was able to get the next batter looking, leaving him one out away from a harmless inning. Broncos’ 3B Nick Bogaerts had other ideas. Bogaerts delivered a shot into the outfield, scoring two runs and giving Barrington the 2-1 lead.

Barrington continued to roll as the following batter, Jake Meyer, singled into right field. Looking to extend their lead, Bogaerts was waved around third toward home. A perfect throw from RF Rio Komatani to C Carter Gledhill gunned down Bogaerts at the plate, ending the inning and limiting the damage to two runs.

With momentum back on their side, Buffalo Grove capitalized in the fifth inning. Barrington made the move to go to their bullpen to begin the fifth, and would have been out of the inning quickly if not for a few mishaps. Reliever RJ Nowicki struck out Concialdi to begin the inning, but he was able to reach on the drop third. The sophomore reliever remained calm, getting the next out looking.

A bunt single and stolen base later, Buffalo Grove had second and third with one out and Rundquist up at the plate again. Rundquist was able to hit a ball just deep enough to right field to score the run, tying the game at 2-2.

The Bison were able to load the bases with two out, as Barrington opted to issue intentional walk and then a batter was hit by a pitch. Gledhill smacked a single in right field that brought around two, giving the Bison a 4-2 lead, one they would not relinquish.

Buffalo Grove was able to add a run in each of the sixth on a Fricke double and another in the seventh on a Matt Brunelli groundout. Fricke came out for the seventh and  finished the game having allowed two runs on six hits, striking out two and walking three.

Offensively, seven Bison recorded a hit in the game. Fricke, Rundquist, and Komatani all had doubles. Rundquist finished 1-for-2 with a double, two RBI, and a HBP. Concialidi was 1-for-3 with three runs scored.

For Barrington, Elliot, Mitchell and Bogaerts all had doubles in the game. Meyer had a multi-hit day, going 2-for-3. Jake Horcher also collected a hit on the day.