Monday, April 27

 

By Drake Skleba

 

No. 1 Harrisburg (26-0; 10-0) completed a perfect 10-0 run through the Southern Illinois River-River Ohio Division with a 7-1 win over Murphysboro on Monday. The Ohio Divison crown was the third consecutive for Harrisburg head coach Jay Thompson and the Bulldogs. Freshman RHP Ryne Roper (6-0) was the Bulldog star of the game. The fantastic freshman fired a complete-game victory, striking out 11 and helping himself with a two-run bomb as the top-ranked Bulldogs rolled.

 

No. 3 St. Laurence (20-1;9-0 White) won their 20^th game of the season behind senior Scott Koziol, who had three hits and three RBIs as the Vikings hammered Leo 11-1 in five innings.

 

No. 4 Naperville Central (16-2; 7-0) defeated Glenbard East 7-3 behind senior LHP Shane Conlon, who improved to 4-0 on the mound for the Redhawks.Conlon fanned nine in his five inning stint against the Rams.

 

No. 8 Naperville North (16-2;6-1) kept pace with Naperville Central in the Du Page Valley as the Huskies clobbered Wheaton Warrenville South 11-0 in five innings. Oakton Community College-recruit Kyle Klosak (4-1) fired a two-hitter and struck out seven. University of Maryland-bound CF Charlie White had four hits and a pair of RBIs to lead the Huskies. Senior 2B Idris Hanidu chipped in with a pair of hits and four RBI for North.

 

No. 5 St. Rita (18-3; 7-1) rolled behind their dynamic duo of junior Joe Filomeno and sophomore Stefano Belmonte. Filomeno drove in three runs and Belmonte added a pair of ribbies as the Mustangs defeated Fenwick 5-1…In other Catholic League action, Loyola defeated De La Salle 6-5. De La Salle (13-4; 6-1) suffered its first loss in Catholic League play.

 

No. 7 Downers Grove South (16-5; 7-1) defeated Leyden 12-4 behind seniors RHP Jake Rone and first baseman Pat Korienek. Rone improved to 7-0 on the mound and Korienek had three hits and three RBIs for the Mustangs.

 

No. 8 Warren (17-3; 3-1 Lake) and No.12 Mundelein (16-3; 4-2 Lake) both won on Monday. Warren, behind sophomore RHP Pat Kenney, blanked Deerfield 7-0 in a nonconference game. Kenney fired four hitless innings, striking out 5 to pick up the win for the Blue Devils…Mundelein defeated Lake Zurich 8-1 in a Lake Division battle.

 

In more Catholic League action, No. 15 Mt. Carmel (16-5; 6-2) blasted St. Ignatius 11-1. University of Kentucky-bound 1B Jeff Boehm continued his torrid hitting with a three run-homer and four RBIs to lead the Caravan. The win was No.300 for Caravan head coach Brian Hurry.

 

No. 20 Lincoln-Way Central (15-5; 4-1) continued its wining ways in the Southwest Suburban Blue as senior Chad Podkulski led the Knights to a 14-2 win over Joliet. Podkulski had a perfect 4-for-4 day with a pair of RBIs. Sophomore Evan Branyik chipped in with a pair of hits and RBIs.

 

In the South Suburban Blue Division, Oak Forest (13-3; 10-1) continued to roll. The Bengals, behind junior Tim Barry and RHP Joe Mroczek, crushed Bremen 10-0 in five innings. Barry hit a two-run homer, his fifth of the season, and Mroczek, in his first start of the year, fired a five-inning shutout.

 

In the Upstate 8, Waubonsie Valley (11-7; 8-3) defeated Lake Park 2-0 behind 6-foot-3 junior LHP Mike Murphy (3-1). Murphy fired a two-hit shutout at the Lancers striking out an even dozen for the Warriors. Valparaiso University-bound 3B Sam Carius had a two-run blast for the Warriors.

 

Defending Class 4A champion New Trier (9-8) is getting hot, as the Trevians blanked Lake Forest 10-0 in six innings on Monday. Junior LHP Charlie Tilson fired three scoreless innings in relief and had a pair of hits. Red-hot senior Gordie Campbell had two hits and an RBI for New Trier. The Invisible Man also contributed.

 

In the Mid-Illini Conference, East Peoria (7-11, 6-1) defeated Washington 10-2 to take over the top spot in the MIC. Warrior ace Ryan Harkins fired a two-hitter at the Panthers… Bartonville Limestone (13-5; 5-2) stayed in the hunt with a 6-4 win over Dunlap. Sophomore second baseman Robbie Gossmeyer launched a two-run bomb in the fifth and T.J. Dunne and Lakin Foiles had clutch RBI singles in the sixth as the Rockets soared past the Eagles. Senior LHP Luke Hermann struck out eight in six innings to pick up the win. Limestone hosts East Peoria on Monday May 3 at 7.

 

Burlington Central (19-1; 4-0) romped past North Boone 11-1 in six innings. Junior Sam Klein fired a complete game, striking out nine and improving to 5-0 for the Rockets on the mound. Sophomore RF Tanner Scott and senior catcher Austin Jarvis drove home two runs each for BC.

 

In the Interstate 8 North, Coal City defeated Lisle 2-0 behind a two-hit shutout from senior RHP Colt Smith (5-2). The St. Joseph’s College recruit fanned 12 in leading Coal City (13-8; 6-2) into a first place tie with Sandwich (12-10; 6-2). Lisle (15-6; 5-2) slips into third place but will have Clemson-bound RHP John Surber (3-0) on the mound today against the Coalers in Lisle. The PBR’s Drake Skleba will be in Lisle for the I-8 North showdown.