By Drake Skleba

 

NAPERVILLE - On Wednesday morning, No. 1 Naperville Central was embroiled in a classic battle with their neighborhood rival No. 34 Waubonsie Valley. Being held in check by Waubonsie Valley ace left-handed pitcher, Kris Singh, the battle moved to the bottom of the sixth tied at 1.

 

The Redhawks unloaded an offensive assault that produced eight runs and seven hits in the home half of the sixth and top-rated Naperville Central had a 9-1 victory.

 

After one out, Naperville Central senior centerfielder Matt Cmiel (3-for-4, 3B, RBI) singled to start the onslaught. Senior DH Marc Mantucca (2-for-4, R) singled, advancing Cmiel to second. Senior right fielder Bobby Czarnowski was next.

 

“I went up with the mindset to just get the ball in play,” said Czarnowski.”I got an inside pitch and hit it well.”

 

Czarnowski’s line shot to center was booted by the Waubonsie Valley centerfielder, allowing Mantucca to score; Cmiel had crossed the plate on the clutch single. After senior SS Nick Linne (1-for-2, 2R, BB) walked, senior third baseman Mason Hallett ended the day for Singh (5 IP, 5R 11H, 5ER, 2K, 3BB). Hallett crushed an RBI single, his second of the day, to give the ‘Hawks a 4-1 lead.

 

The Redhawk onslaught continued against the Warrior pen. Senior catcher Ryan Walsh (3-for-3, 2RBI) ripped a shot off the Warrior shortstop for an RBI single.

 

“We all really hit the ball well today,” said Walsh. “Dan Ludwig, Luke Holm and Marc Mantucca all threw strikes for us and pitched well. Dan’s curveball was really breaking.”

 

Senior 1B Shane Conlon joined the party with a booming RBI double and Cmiel hammered his second hit of the inning, a run-scoring triple.

 

“I am seeing the ball really well at the plate,” said Cmiel. “We all really hit the baseball in the sixth inning.”

 

Naperville Central (3-0) sent junior left-handed pitcher Dan Ludwig to the mound. Ludwig threw four innings and allowed a run and two hits. He fanned five and didn’t walk a batter.

 

Waubonsie Valley (1-2) picked up their lone run in the fourth against Ludwig. Warrior senior third baseman Sam Carius (1-for-3, R) singled and scored on a two-out RBI double by senior rightfielder Jeff Brown for a 1-0 Warrior lead.

 

Naperville Central tied things up in the bottom of the fifth. Linne singled and Hallett laid down a perfect sac-bunt that ended up going for a single. Walsh drilled a single, scoring Linne with the tying run.

 

“I believe the big hit in this game was by my catcher Ryan Walsh,” said Naperville Central head coach Bill Seiple. “Ryan does a lot of things to help us win and his hit tied the game up. It was a good day for the Redhawks. We really hit well in the big sixth. Luddy, Luke Holm and Mark pitched well for us. Look out for Waubonsie Valley. That’s a very good team.”

 

Naperville Central 6-foot-4 senior Luke Holm (1-0) fired two shutout innings of relief of Ludwig to pick up the win. Mantucca retired the Warriors in order in the seventh.

 

“We were right there with Naperville Central,” said Wabaunsie Valley head coach Dan Fezzuoglio. “Kris Singh pitched a fine game for us. He pitched as hard and as long as he could.”