PBR DAILY ROUNDUP

May 9

By Drake Skleba

Big Northern East

Wright State-bound LHP E.J.Trapino (11-0) fired a six-hitter with 13 strikeouts to lead his Richmond-Burton Rockets to a 4-0 win over Burlington Central. The future Raider lefty has allowed two earned runs this season for a miniscule 0.22 ERA.  BC senior RHP Riley Jensen (7-2) suffers the loss on the mound.

With the win, Richmond-Burton (22-7; 8-1) grabs a share of the Big Northern Conference East Division lead. Burlington Central falls to 20-8; 8-1

Catholic Blue

No. 1 St. Laurence (27-3-1; 13-2) outlasted Brother Rice 1-0 in nine extraordinary innings at Viking Field in Burbank on Wednesday. Senior 3B Joel Rotkvich ended the festivities when he doubled home UAB-bound LF Nick Altobella, who had singled, with the Viking game-winner in the bottom of the ninth.

Viking junior Zach Lewis fired eight shutout innings at the Crusaders allowing four hits and striking out nine. Sophomore Brad Wood (6-0), who pitched a scoreless ninth, picked up the win for the top-ranked Vikings.

No. 3 Mount Carmel (25-4; 11-4) beat No.22 St. Rita 5-2 on Wednesday. Caravan senior Tyler Laurish had an RBI single for third-ranked MC. No. 22 St. Rita falls to (18-10; 9-6).

Catholic White

De La Salle (20-8; 13-4) clinched a tie for the CCL-White crown with a thrilling 2-1 win over Gordon Tech on Wednesday. SIU-Bound SS Anthony Shimkus had three hits to lead the Meteor attack.

DuPage Valley

Naperville Central (19-11; 13-4) defeated Naperville North 6-1 behind junior RHP Jimmy Nashert. Nashert fired a seven-hitter at the Huskies to pick up the win on the mound for the DVC co-leaders. Naperville North falls to (17-13; 11-6).

Wheaton North (20-10; 13-4) kept pace with Naperville Central with a thrilling 1-0 victory over Glenbard North. Falcon senior Ed Norris (7-3) won for the sixth consecutive time, firing a five-hit shutout at the Panthers.

East Suburban Catholic

No. 4 Joliet Catholic Academy (22-6-1; 10-2) rallied past Marian Catholic and Arizona State-bound LHP Brett Lilek, 5-4, in eight thrilling innings on Wednesday.

With Marian Catholic (16-12; 4-8) leading 4-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Lilek (3-3) was in relief of starting pitcher Ben Santori, looking to nail down a save for the Spartans. JCA senior Adrian Nunez hammered a three-run double to tie the game at 4-4 for the Hilltoppers.

In the eighth with two outs, Hilltopper senior Nate Searing singled home junior Brock Puth, who had singled with the game-winner sending Hilltopper Nation into orbit.

Interstate 8 North

Lisle (29-5; 14-1) clinched a tie for the I-8 North with a 4-1 win over Sandwich on Wednesday. Red-hot Lion sophomore Kevin Coppin had two more hits and two RBI for the I-8 North leaders.

Interstate 8 South

Perhaps suffering from a let-down after the Panthers heart-breaking 2-0 defeat at Herscher on Tuesday, Manteno (26-5; 10-4) dropped a 10-9 decision to Wilmington on Wednesday. Herscher (26-6; 10-3) takes over sole possession of first place in the I-8 South. The two clubs will meet in Manteno on Saturday morning at 10.

Jackie Robinson North

Lane Tech (16-11; 13-0) shutout Clemente 1-0 to clinch the JR-North championship on Wednesday. Indian junior John McLaughlin (5-4) struck out six and fired a two-hitter at the Wildcats.

Jackie Robinson South

Simeon (20-7; 10-2) defeated Whitney Young 7-2 behind a three-hitter with 13 strikeouts from Oakland University-bound Shane Brown (6-2). Back for just his third game from a serious throat injury, Iowa University-bound Blake Hickman gave Brown all the runs he would need when he launched a three-run bomb to center in the fifth.

Eastern Illinois-recruit SS Marshawn Taylor tripled and doubled home two Wolverine runs. Junior 2B Ronnell Coleman scored three times for the JR-South leaders.

Morgan Park (21-7; 9-3) romped past Kenwood behind a complete-game masterpiece from Mustang Rahman Williams. Williams helped himself with a pair of hits and an RBI.

Harlan (19-10; 9-3) fell out of a first-place tie with Simeon when the Falcons were surprised by Jones 7-5 on Wednesday.

Metro Suburban

Glenbard South (20-8; 12-2) bombed Elmwood Park again 11-4 on Wednesday. The win was the 20^th for GBS head coach Mike Riley’s Raiders. Raider Roger Dryda scored three times and drove home two to lead the GBS attack.

Mid-Illini

Morton (24-5; 10-2) defeated Canton 11-0 in six innings as Illinois State-bound LHP Will Headean (7-1) fired a six-inning no-no with 11 strikeouts for the Potters.

Bartonville Limestone (20-5; 10-2) kept pace with Morton with a 10-0 six-inning win over Dunlap. Rocket senior Jake Light (6-0) fired five scoreless innings to pick up the win. Light helped himself with a pair of hits and a pair of RBI. Red hot junior Zach Jewell also had two hits and two RBI for the M-I co-leaders.

Washington (24-6; 10-3) stayed within a ½ games of Morton and Limestone with a 7-4 win over Metamora (21-7; 6-5). Panther sophomore Casey Danley hammered a two- run double and senior Dakota Bullard continued his hot-hitting with a two-run single to lead the Panthers past the Redbirds.

Panther junior LHP Charlie Ludolph (6-1) struck out 10 to pick up the win on the mound for Washington.

Mid-Suburban East

Hersey (20-7; 9-5) and Prospect (12-16; 9-5) both lost to remain tied atop the MSL-East. Rolling Meadows (17-12; 8-6) beat Hersey 4-1 and Elk Grove beat Prospect again 2-0 on Wednesday.

Mid-Suburban West

Fremd (16-12; 9-5) continued its late-season swoon with a 3-2 loss to arch-rival Palatine on Wednesday. The loss was the fourth straight for the Vikings and second straight to the rival Pirates.

North Suburban Lake

No. 7 Mundelein (24-4; 9-1) bombed Zion-Benton 16-0 in five innings as senior Mark Langlie improved to 8-1 on the mound for the Mustangs, allowing just one hit. University of Iowa-bound Ryan Borucki hit a three-run bomb and Mustang Jordan Bregenzer hammered a grand-slam for the NSC-Lake leaders.

Libertyville (17-8; 8-2) kept pace with Mundelein with a 8-1 win over Lake Forest. Wildcat junior C Evan Skoug went deep for Libertyville.

North Suburban Prairie

Vernon Hills (22-6; 8-1) swept away Antioch 7-5 to expand the Cougars lead in the NSC-Prairie.

N. Illinois Big 12-East

Kaneland (19-8; 12-2) defeated Morris 4-2 as the defending Class 3A champs clinched a tie for the NIB-12 East title. Knight senior Jake Razo had three hits, scored two runs and pilfered a pair of bases to lead Kaneland on Wednesday.

Yorkville (17-10-1; 11-3) slipped past Sycamore 5-4 behind senior CF Nick Gillette, who plated a pair of runs for the Foxes. Junior C Chris Hill chipped in with an RBI as Yorkville can grab a share of NIB-12 East with a win over Sycamore today and a Morris win over Kaneland.

NIC-10

Rockford Boylan (21-7; 13-0) defeated Machesney Park Harlem 14-4 in six innings on Wednesday (See Sean Duncan’s story).

South Suburban Blue

Lemont (17-7; 13-2) continued its late-season drive with a 4-0 win over Tinley Park on Wednesday. Indian junior LHP Cody Caballero fired six shutout innings at the Titans allowing just two hits to pick up the win on the mound. Senior Kyle Milinowish had two hits, including an RBI to lead the Lemont attack.

Lemont pulls within a ½ game of SCC-Blue leader No. 21 Oak Forest (21-4; 14-2).

South Suburban Red

Congrats to Richards (16-11; 11-3) head coach Brian Wujcik on winning his 400^th career victory at 106^TH and Central in Oak Lawn. Wujcik’s Bulldogs crushed Evergreen Park 13-5 behind two-RBI days from Bulldog senior 1B Ricky Palacios and sophomore Charlie Zeschke. Richards leads Oak Lawn (18-9; 10-4) by one game with two to go in the SCC Red race.

Southwest Prairie

No. 12 Plainfield North (25-3; 15-2) smashed Minooka 11-4 behind Tiger juniors Brendan Miller (7-0) and Colton Smith. Miller went the distance to pick up the win on the mound and Smith went deep and plated three for the SWPC leaders. Minooka falls to (20-10; 12-5).

Southwest Suburban Blue

No. 10 Sandburg (20-5; 9-3) got ambushed by St. Joseph’s College-bound Mark Chemello (6-1) and the Lincoln-Way East Griffins 2-1 on Wednesday. Chemello fired a three-hitter at the Eagles and Bobby Kosola and Jake Hickey plated the two Griffin runs. Lincoln-Way East improves to (15-11; 6-5).

Southwest Suburban Red

No. 5 Lincoln-Way North (25-5; 11-0) grabbed the SWSC-Red lead with a 6-3 win over Andrew. Junior RHP Mike Miller fired a six-hitter at the T-Bolts. Phoenix senior Dom Hartman had two more hits and two RBI. Senior Jack Troike singled home the eventual game-winner for the SWSC-Red leaders.

Andrew (20-8; 10-1) will host L-W North on Friday in Tinley Park at 4:30. You can watch the SWSC-Red showdown LIVE at www.prepbaseballreport.highschoolcube.com.

The PBR’s own Drake Skleba will provide his exciting play-by-play coverage to the podcast.

Stagg (12-15; 5-6) destroyed Thornridge 11-3 behind a five-hitter for Charger Steve Kubiak (3-3). Brandon Campbell and Steve Klimaz led the Charger attack with two RBI, each.

Suburban Christian Gold

Aurora Christian (23-6; 11-2) moved closer to an SCC-Gold title with a 5-2 victory over Immaculate Conception on Wednesday. Eagle senior Mike Free’s big two-run single in the seventh wins it for AC. University of Pennsylvania-bound Mitch Holtz (2-0) fired a three-hitter at the Knights with seven punch-outs.

Upstate 8 River

Surging St. Charles North (20-8; 14-4) slipped past Batavia 1-0 for the North Stars 15^th win in their last 16 games. Eastern Illinois-bound RHP Jake Johansmeier (5-2) fired a five-hitter at the Bulldogs. The North Stars trail St. Charles East (18-7; 16-3) by a game and a half in the River race.

St. Charles East will host Geneva (18-6; 10-6) in the first of a big three-game River series today at 4:30 in St. Charles. The PBR’s Drake Skleba will be on the Eastside of St. Charles for all of the action.

Upstate 8 Valley

Neuqua Valley (21-7; 15-3) zeroed in on the Valley championship with a 13-2 pasting of Lake Park in five innings on Wednesday.

West Suburban Silver

Oak Park (19-6-1; 10-5) defeated Lyons Township 5-2 in Oak Park on Wednesday. Huskie junior 1B Nick Kowalczuk hammered a big two-run double to lead the OPRF past LT (16-8; 9-3) 

Nonconference

No. 14 Bloomington (24-5) rolled past Mahomet-Seymour 6-1 behind a three-hitter from Purple Raider junior Jack Cerny (7-2). Junior Brandon Edwards had three more hits and senior Matt Mardis drove home two more as the BIG 12 leaders continue to roll. 

Elgin (8-17) cooled off FVC-Valley leaders No. 25 Crystal Lake South 1-0 on Wednesday. The Gators fall to 22-8. The Gators host Fox Valley-Fox Division champions Grayslake Central (22-6) on Monday in a battle of FVC divisional leaders at 4:30. The PBR’s Drake Skleba will be in Gator Country for all of the action.

Cary-Grove (18-9) beat Wauconda 5-1 behind Trojan Matt Byrne. Byrne fell a bomb short of hitting for the cycle and plated four Trojan runs.