By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Director - Illinois

JOLIET - There's no rest for the weary in the rugged Southwest Suburban Blue Conference. In a topsy-turvey conference race, No. 23 Joliet West made it that much more muddled by defeating No. 6 Lincoln-Way East 8-4 on Tuesday.

Senior ace right-hander Jake Herron took the mound for the Tigers (13-7) and looked dominant early, retiring the first six batters he faced. Herron was using a 12/6 breaking ball complimented by an 84-86 mph fastball that kept the Griffins guessing all day.

The Tigers got on the board first in the third with a three-run outburst ignited by sophomore shortstop Cody Grosse. Grosse ripped a double past a diving first baseman for an easy stand up double. After a base hit bunt by unsigned senior centerfielder Larry Holman, juniors Zack Thomas and Anthony Dinardo followed with clean singles cap off the inning.

Herron allowed two unearned in the fourth inning after a passed ball and an errant throw on a drop third strike. In the fifth, Griffin shortstop Evan Sandmann made it a 5-4 ballgame by launching a two-run homer to right off of a Herron fastball at the belt.

Grosse set the table again for the Tigers in the fourth, showing off his blazing speed with a bunt base hit. Grosse then came around to score on a Holman triple.

The Griffins would not get to Herron again as he finished the game working six innings and striking out seven. The John A. Logan commit walked just one and scattered five hits.

Tiger centerfielder Larry Holman finished the day going 3-for-4 and scoring two runs using his foot speed to his advantage. Holman recorded a triple and two singles that stayed on the infield.

After falling to No. 1-ranked Lincoln-Way North on Monday, Lincoln-Way East dropped to 16-4 and 5-2 in conference play.

Check back tomorrow at the Illinois Scouting Blog for prospect reports from the game.

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