By Drake Skleba
Senior Writer

PALOS HEIGHTS – In a battle for first-place in the Suburban Christian Conference Gold Division, Chicago Christian scored five times in the first inning. The Knights would score four times in the bottom of fifth to put an early-end to the proceedings and cruise to an 11-0 victory over Aurora Central Catholic on Monday.

Knight senior SS Brodie Meyer sent everyone home with his walk-off grand-slam bomb to left-center to institute the 10-run rule and put Chicago Christian (18-2; 8-1) atop the Gold standings.

“I went up to the plate in the fifth telling myself to stay relaxed and get a good swing,” said Meyer. “I hit it well and it felt great to hit it out for the game-winner.”

Aurora Central Catholic (16-2; 7-1) came into the game with a 15-game winning streak. The Knights jumped out on top of Charger starting pitcher, Andrew Bruss (4-1) in the first inning. Chicago Christian’s starting and winning pitcher junior Josh Novak (5-0) got the party started for the Knights with a booming three-run double. Novak’s batterymate, junior Max Kerfin, hammered a clutch two out-two run bomb to give the Knights a 5-0 lead. It was Kerfin’s second dinger of 2013.

“Starting strong was a big key for us tonight,” said Kerfin. “It felt great to hit the two-run homer, especially being in the first inning. Josh was solid for us all night and really kept his head in the game.” 

Meanwhile, on the mound Novak was dealing. The junior fired three no-hit innings at the Chargers. Charger Phil Schuetz led off the ACC fourth with a line single to end Novak’s no-hit dreams but the junior would not allow another hit and would finish with a one-hit shutout masterpiece.

“It was good to knock them down 1-2-3 in the first and then come up with the three-run double,” said Novak. “I’m very pleased and thankful to have shut-down a very good team tonight.”

The Knights would pick up a pair of unearned runs in the second, highlighted by an RBI single from Corey Bulthuis and the first ribbie for Meyer on a fielder’s choice.

In the fifth, the Knights would load the bases after two outs and set up some “Meyer Magic.”

“The five-run first inning was huge for us tonight,” said Chicago Christian Coach Eric Brauer. “I asked Josh if he could pitch and hit today. He certainly did. He was outstanding on the mound for us and with the exception of a couple of walks pitched a great game.”

The two clubs will meet again in Aurora on Tuesday, weather permitting, at 4:30.