CHICAGO, IL - The No. 6 Brother Rice Crusaders (17-6) 10-run ruled conference rival No. 20 St. Rita (15-8) 13-3 in a Monday afternoon CCL clash at Brother Rice. Timely hitting with runners in scoring position from the Crusaders led this game to a shortened 5-inning affair. Spotty control was prevalent on the mound for both teams, but the Crusaders took advantage when it counted.

The Crusaders put up three runs in the second inning, four in the third and six in the fourth. Dillan Fike, Danny Doligale and Mike Hopkins, the 6-7-8 part of the Brother Rice lineup, came to the plate nine total times and scored nine total runs. The trio scored in order in the second inning highlighted by a RBI single by Hopkins. The three also came into score in the third inning, along with teammate Brett Selke, courtesy of a two-run single by Pat Hayes (Illinois State commit). Sam Jones (Indiana commit) started the rally in the 4th by drawing a walk, stealing a bag, and coming to score on a single by Fike.

The nail in the coffin came courtesy of a bases clearing three-run double by Sophomore Jack Payton that scored Hopkins, Mike Bolton (Purdue commit) and Hayes. Hayes had a productive day finishing 1-for-1 with two walks, three RBI and a HBP as well as Hopkins who went 2-for-2 with three runs scored, two RBI and one BB. The Crusaders totalled 10 hits on the day, one of which was for extra bases.

St. Rita had their opportunities to score but couldn’t get the clutch hit leaving nine runners on base, seven of which were in scoring position. Mike Skoraczewski (Calumet St. Joe’s commit) walked to leadoff the game and came into score on a RBI single by Frank Napleton (Saint Leo commit). The Mustangs did not score again till Jalen Greer (Missouri commit) and Jake Zylman (Heartland CC commit) crossed home in the 5th inning on pinch hit RBIs from Luke Napleton and Dan Brannigan making the score 13-3. The Mustangs then left the bags loaded to end the game in the fifth frame.

Both pitching staffs struggling finding the zone on the day resulting in a total of twelve free passes and six hit batters. Joey Payton (Central Michigan commit) started for Brother Rice and went three innings with two hits, one earned run, two Ks, three BBs, and two HBPs. Eli Sweiss hit two batters and Patrick Reidy hit one, but both Crusaders picked up a K apiece allowing no runs in relief. Junior Matt Callahan took it on the chin in his three inning performance allowing seven earned, striking out two and walking four.

For more in-depth notes from the game - and all other games that we cover - visit the Illinois Scout Blog later.

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