By Drake Skleba

NAPERVILLE – Five triples. Three doubles. Thirteen hits. All told, it added up to a convincing 10-5 DuPage Valley Conference opening victory for Naperville Central. Redhawk junior leftfielder Jimmy Nashert led the way with two triples, a double and a single to complete his perfect 4-for-4 afternoon against Glenbard East. Nashert scored three runs and drove home a Redhawk run.

“It was a fun day for me today,” said Nashert. “I had some good pitches to hit and hit the ball very well.”

Naperville Central senior RHP Ian Lewandowski was the recipient of the Redhawk onslaught. Lewandowski allowed one earned run in his six innings of work to improve to 3-0 for 2012.

“We really hit the ball well today,” said Lewandowski. “I was fortunate for all of the run support because I really didn’t pitch well today. Give credit to Glenbard East. They hit me up and down their lineup.”

Naperville Central (6-4; 1-0) scored in the bottom of the first when Nashert led off the Redhawk first with the first of his two triples. Redhawk junior Nick Lopez (3-for-4, 2 RBI) singled home Nashert and the ‘Hawks led 1-0.

“This was our DVC opener. Conference is all-business and we all hit the ball very well today,” said Lopez. “I was fortunate to get some big hits for us.”

Glenbard East (8-6; 0-1) tied things up in the top of the third on an RBI single from Ram senior 1B Zac Sadowski. Sadowski drove home Ram starting pitcher junior Nick Vichio (2-2), who had doubled.

Naperville Central answered with a four-run third to open up a 5-1 lead. Redhawk senior SS Nick Ryan (2-for-3, 3B, 2B) led off the inning with a triple. Lewandowski doubled home a pair and senior Ross Murphy (2-for-4, 3B, 2RBI) singled home the fourth run of the inning.

Glenbard East closed to 5-3 with two runs in the fourth. Ram senior catcher Chris Milligan doubled home senior SS Pat Walsh (2-for-3, BB, R), who had singled. Vichio had an RBI single to bring the Rams within 5-3.

Naperville Central put the game away against the Glenbard East bullpen with a five-run bottom of the sixth. The inning featured three Redhawk triples and a double. Redhawk senior RF Bryce Kirk tripled home a run. Nashert hammered a shot over the right fielder’s head. Nashert raced into third; had head coach Mike Stock not held him up, Nashert may have had an inside-the-park home run to complete the cycle. Lopez singled home Nashert with the fifth run of the inning.

“I didn’t realize Jimmy needed a home run for the cycle,” said Stock. “Jimmy has been doing this for us all year. He is a special player.”

Glenbard East junior LF Mike Hanson had a pair of hits and had a big two-run double in the seventh for the Rams.

“We didn’t make some plays today that cost us this game,” said Glenbard East head coach Joel Pelland. “Tomorrow is another opportunity for us to move foreword.”