Just three games into the 2002 season, the Lockport baseball team has proven it has ice in its veins.
With Thursday’s game tied in the bottom of the eighth inning, Lockport’s Justin Vaughn laid down a suicide squeeze bunt to bring Jim Ziska across the plate for a 6-5 victory over Plainfield.
“We’re just somewhat of a young and inexperienced team,” Lockport coach Jim Hall said. “We have to produce runs, from hit-and-running to bunt-and-running. It’s a must for our team this year.”
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Thursday’s heroics came one day after the Porters generated four runs in the bottom of the seventh to top Downers Grove South 5-4.
“The kids never feel they’re out of the baseball game,” Hall said. “That says something about the character of our team.”
Adam Hutten pitched the last five innings to earn his second win of the season for the Porters (3-0), giving up only one hit and one earned run. Sean Radke started the game for Lockport, but gave up three runs in a rocky first inning.
“This kid’s 6-5 and has a real live arm,” Hall said about Radke, a junior. “I think he was a bit nervous in his first game pitching, but he came back to strike out six in only three innings.”
Lockport tied the game 3-3 in the bottom of the first and went up 5-4 before Plainfield (0-1) evened the score 5-5 in the top of the sixth.
Vaughn went 2-for-4 and Jeremy Major was 3-for-3 with one RBI.
Ed Cavanaugh.
Oak Park 8, Barrington 1: David Bach went 3-for-4, including a two-run home run, as the No. 2 Huskies (4-0) took care of Barrington.
Homewood-Flossmoor 13, Oak Forest 1: The No. 6 Vikings (1-0) drubbed No. 13 Oak Forest behind Steve Watson’s three-run home run.
New Trier 7, Glenbard South 2: Ted Rosinski and Chris Harang drove in all seven runs for the Trevians (1-0), who upset the No. 10 Raiders.
Glenbard South 7, Harrisburg 6: In their second game of the day, the Raiders (3-1) rallied to beat Harrisburg in eight innings behind a 4-for-5 game from Brian Olson.
Benet 10, St. Francis 2: Chris Musielak had three hits, including a two-run home run, for Benet (3-1).
Brother Rice 3, Harlan 0: The Crusaders (3-0) prevailed as Dan Hennigan hurled a two-hitter with nine strikeouts and Brad Willette drove in two runs. Luke O’Loughlin earned the save by striking out the side in the seventh inning.
Deerfield 15, Grant 9: John Hamilton drove in eight runs, including a grand slam and a two-run home run in the first inning, as the Warriors (1-1) outslugged Grant.
De La Salle 15, Hyde Park 1: Anthony Gargano hit for the cycle and drove in nine runs for the Meteors (4-0).
Glenbard North 13, Lake Park 3: The Panthers (1-2) scored eight runs in the seventh inning to break the game open, and Chris Zinn threw a complete-game two-hitter and struck out 13.
Glenbard West 14, Naperville North 5: Robert Inzinga pitched four innings of no-hit relief.
Hales Franciscan 8, Quigley 2: Jason Nash scored two runs and drove in another for Hales (5-0).
Lane Tech 14, St. Ignatius 10: Chris Thompson and Ryne Malonzo each homered for Lane Tech (3-2).
Libertyville 3-3, Grayslake 0-2: John Dwan had a one-hit, 15-strikeout performance in the opener for the Wildcats (4-0).
Lincoln-Way East 8, Thornridge 7: The Griffins (1-0) used two home runs by David Pammer to outlast Thornridge.
Loyola 4, Glenbrook South 1: Jake Toohey threw a one-hitter and struck out eight for the Ramblers (3-0). Josh Rudolfi struck out 14 and walked none for Glenbrook South.
Montini 5, Wheaton North 2: Kevin Tyrell went 4-for-4 and drove in two runs for the Broncos (2-2).
Morton 9, Riverside-Brookfield 2: Ken Hollub fired a complete game for the Mustangs (3-2) and Jim Duddleston drove in three runs.
Mundelein 9, Wheeling 0: Mike Nilles shut down Wheeling for six innings for the Mustangs (2-1), striking out five with no walks.
Niles West 8, Rolling Meadows 4: Mike Tomoleoni’s three-run double broke open the game for Niles West (3-2).
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Northside Prep 4, Holy Cross 1: Andre Reyes’ two-run single in the top of the ninth sparked Northside (4-1), while Norman Massel pitched a complete-game five-hitter.
Prospect 8, Dundee-Crown 3: The Knights (4-0) used the strong pitching of Dan Fotopolous and Brian Mitchell to beat Dundee-Crown.
Robeson 8, Chicago Vocational 3: Joseph Williams and Vashaun Jackson knocked in two runs each for the Raiders (2-4).
St. Benedict 3, Immaculate Conception 1: Steve Rubio allowed one hit in six innings and struck out nine for the Bengals (3-0).
St. Laurence 6, Bremen 1: Neal Warchol struck out 13 over six innings for the Vikings (3-2) and Matt Shirkie hit a three-run homer in the first.
Stagg 6, Shepard 1: Brett Anderson had 13 strikeouts for the Chargers (4-0) and Ryan Johnson provided the hitting with a double, home run and three RBIs.
Steinemtz 7, Juarez 6: Jose Alanis’s fifth-inning three-run home run proved to be enough for the Silver Streaks (2-2).
Stevenson 4, Hersey 3: Derren Nasatir pitched two-plus innings of no-hit relief for the save as the Patriots (3-0) edged Hersey.
Waubonsie Valley 8, East Aurora 4: Jeff Sassano and Joe Fumo each drove in two runs for the Warriors (1-1) to double up East Aurora.
Wheaton Warrenville South 4, Downers Grove North 3: Matt Schref’s two-run triple in the sixth inning ignited the Tigers (2-0) to score four runs as they squeaked past Downers North.
Willowbrook 10-1, Glenbard East 5-10: Marco Bufrasio knocked in three runs for the Warriors (1-2) in the first game of a doubleheader.