By Drake Skleba

 

LA GRANGE - In a battle of the top two teams in the Metro Suburban Conference, Riverside-Brookfield slipped past Illiana Christian 1-0 in a game that was played in a snappy 87 minutes. Riverside-Brookfield received a complete-game six-hit shutout from Alex Brown. The Bulldogs hard-throwing lefty struck out eight and walked two to improve to 3-2 on the season.

 

“It was perfect today to come out and throw a shutout,” said Brown “I didn’t hit my spots as well as I have this season but I had eight strikeouts and a shutout, so I must have done well. My defense was great and Matt Scott and Matt Kenahan have helped me out all season.”

 

The top play of this outstanding baseball game put a conclusion to it. With R-B (11-8; 7-0) leading 1-0 in the Illiana Christian seventh, R-B senior right fielder Matt Kenahan sent the R-B faithful joyously home.

 

Illiana Christian (12-6; 5-2) started the seventh with a leadoff walk to junior RF Seth Wiltjer (1-for-2, BB).Viking sophomore second baseman Tyler Smit laid down a beautiful sac-bunt, almost beating it out for a hit, moving Wiltjer to second. Wiltjer was lifted for a pinch runner, junior Brian Botterman.

 

 Up to the plate stepped senior leadoff man Pete Krygsheld. The hard-hitting Viking shortstop had already doubled and singled off Brown in three trips to the plate. Brown induced Krygsheld to fly to Kenahan in right. After the catch, Botterman tagged and broke for third. Kenahan fired a strike to Bulldog third baseman Charlie Morrissey, who put the tag on Botterman and the game was over.

 

“I have only been in right field a short while filling in for Tyler Radek, our regular right fielder, who has had some back problems lately,” said Kenahan. “I am really happy I was able to come up with the big throw to end the game. This was an important win for us because it extends our lead over Illinana Christian to two games going into Saturday’s doubleheader.”

 

R-B scored the only run of this thriller in the bottom of the fourth. Bulldog senior catcher Matt Scott, who entered the game hitting .527 with 27 RBIs, led off with a booming double to center off of Viking starting and hard-luck losing pitcher Austin Evenhouse. Courtesy runner junior Brendan McGuire ran for Scott.

 

Kenahan then walked. Evenhouse retired the next two Bulldog hitters and it appeared he would pitch out of trouble. Bulldog junior pinch-hitter Sean Brennan walked to load the bases. Sophomore second baseman Dylan Beketic hit a sharp groundball that ate up the Viking shortstop for an error and allowed McGuire to dance home with what would be the game-winner.

 

“This was a huge win because we open up a two game lead over Illiana Christian,” said Scott. “Evenhouse laid one right in my wheelhouse and I was able to hit the double to the centerfield wall. I worked really hard in the offseason and my hard work is really paying off. Alex Brown was outstanding for us again today.”

 

Evenhouse pitched a complete-game three-hitter, striking out three and walking three. The run was unearned. Evenhouse falls to 2-2 on the season.

 

“Austin pitched great for us and deserved to win,” said Illiana head coach Dave Beezhold. “We didn’t execute today and made a couple of defensive mistakes that cost us the game. That’s part of the game and we will move on. R-B’s Brown was the toughest pitcher we have seen this season and give him credit for he was very good. We are looking forward to Saturday’s doubleheader at our place.”

 

The two clubs will meet in Lansing on Saturday for a twin-bill at 10 a.m. Matt Kenahan will return to the mound from right field to face the Vikings in game one.

 

“That was a very good game,” said R-B head coach Mike Ziroli. “We knew it would be close. Alex Brown pitched very well for us, especially with runners on base. Matt Kenahan is our No.2 pitcher and is normally our third baseman when he isn’t pitching for us. That was Matt’s third game in right field. …Matt made an outstanding throw to end the game.”