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No. 21 Fenwick's Two-Out Magic Blasts Montini

April 8, 2015

By Drake Skleba
Senior Writer

LOMBARD - Scoring nine of their 13 runs after two outs, the Friars of Fenwick rallied past Montini (7-1) in a battle of unbeatens 13-6. In cold and damp Lombard on Tuesday, Kevin Forde went 4-for-5 and drove home seven runs to lead the Friars past the Broncos. Friar starting and winning right-handed pitcher Jon Kagan (1-0) settled down after a shaky start and went the distance to pick up his first win of the season.

Fenwick’s Jack Hendricks led off the ball game by hammering a 3-1 pitch from Montini starting pitcher Sean Frontzak (2-1) over the right-field fence for a quick 1-0 Friar lead.  The Broncos answered with a run in the bottom of the first and then a big four-run outburst in the bottom of the second, highlighted by Jack Gerberich’s two-run single.

Forde singled home his first run of the game in a two-run Friar third inning, pulling Fenwick within 5-3. With two outs in the fourth, Forde ripped a clutch, two-run single to left, tying the contest at 5-5. Friar catcher Justin Rodriguez ripped another clutch two-out RBI single to right, to give the Friars a 6-5 lead. Mike Neill (2-for-5, 3RBI) followed with another two-out, RBI single for a 7-5 Friar lead.

The Friars broke open the game with a five-run fifth, with all five runs scoring after two out. The inning was highlighted by a three-run bomb from Forde over the right-field fence.

“I got on top of the ball very well today and Jon settled down and we came away with a big victory,” Forde said. “I just try to go out and do anything I can to help us keep winning. We’re really excited about being state-ranked but we have to focus on winning each game. Next week we get the Chicago Catholic League Blue Division big boys. After that we’ll know where we stand.”

After Quinn Snarskis (2-for-4) was hit by a pitch, Rodriguez, ripped a smash past the diving centerfielder that plated Snarskis and the fleet-footed Friar catcher had a stand-up triple.

“No, that was my second triple of my career. I move pretty good for a big guy,” Rodriguez said. “Jon Kagan after the first two innings really got comfortable and did a great job for us.

Next week will be big for us. I feel we will step up. With Kevin and Quinn (Snarskis) on the bump I think we will do OK.”

Neill came through once again, with his second two-out RBI single of the game, to put this one out of reach.

Fenwick will meet Leo in a Catholic League crossover tomorrow, before taking on Oak Park River Forest in “The Battle of Oak Park at Oak Park on Friday at 4:30. Next week the Friars travel to No.1 Mount Carmel (8-0) on Monday, host No.21 St.  Laurence on Wednesday, travel to No. 6 Brother Rice (9-1, before returning home to host No. 3 Providence (8-0) next Saturday April 17, at the Priory in River Forest at 11.

“I have a tremendous group here this year. They are all fighters and they all can hit,” Fenwick coach Dave Hogan said. “Kevin Forde showed he certainly can hit. Seven RBI. Wow! Jon Kagan is a great pitcher but he sometimes falls in love with his pitches. We had to change some things after the first two innings and then Jon pitched very well. Next week we face the Chicago Catholic League Blue powerhouses. They are the best schools in the state but I know we will compete with them.”  

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