The eighth-ranked St. Rita baseball team was fortunate to have a couple of seniors with big bats in its lineup Saturday.
Bill Woods and Steve Krates, both three-year varsity starters, each turned in a 3-for-4 day at the plate with four RBIs and a homer to lift the Mustangs to an 11-8 victory over New Trier.
Woods belted a three-run homer in the third to help put the host Mustangs up 6-0, and when New Trier responded with eight runs in the fourth, Krates drove in three of St. Rita’s final five runs for the win.
“They are a couple of seniors who we need to be there for us in those situations,” St. Rita coach Mike Zunica said.
“If we’re going to be a solid team, the seniors need to step up.”
Krates hit a solo shot in the fifth to pull St. Rita within 8-7, then added a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth to give the Mustangs the lead for good at 10-8.
Junior Kevin White earned the win after pitching four innings in relief of starter Mark Gonciarczyk. In his first outing of the year, White gave up two earned runs, four hits and one walk. Gonciarczyk, 7-2 last year, is 0-1 this season in three starts.
“He’s our ace but he’s been struggling,” said Zunica about Gonciarczyk, also a senior three-year starter. “He looked real good off the bat and got out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the first inning. But then the wheels just fell off.”
New Trier (1-1) rattled off seven straight hits in the fourth inning to score six runs before Ted Rosinski’s two-run homer gave the Trevians an 8-6 lead.
“Well, it wasn’t exactly a comeback,” said Zunica of his team’s performance. “We blew a 6-0 lead. I was just happy, after watching [New Trier] put up eight runs in about 10 minutes, that we hung in to get the win.”
Ed Cavanaugh.
St. Charles East 6-14, Elgin 3-2: Brian Szarmach went 3-for-3 with four RBIs and Nick Prater struck out nine over five innings in the opener to lead the No. 3 Saints (4-2). In the nightcap, Tod Moore pitched a four-hitter with eight strikeouts.
Lemont 9-0, Sandburg 8-1: Lemont rallied for three runs in the sixth inning to win the opener over No. 4 Sandburg (2-1). Jim Hoffman had two three-run homers for Sandburg. In the nightcap, Ryan Campbell pitched a three-hitter and scored the game’s only run as Sandburg salvaged the split.
Homewood-Flossmoor 15, Thornton Fractional South 3: Tony Steele hit a grand slam and Jacob Heilisser added a home run of his own as the No. 6 Vikings (2-0) rolled.
Andrew 10, Marian Catholic 0: Keith Jacobs went 3-for-4 with a double and five RBIs to lead the No. 7 Thunderbolts (3-0). Brendan Christy pitched three perfect innings to earn the victory.
Bradley-Boubonnais 10-5, Lincoln-Way East 9-7: Tim Messer homered twice and scored four runs in the opener.
Bremen 13-19, Peotone 3-6: Mike Wallerich and Kevin Heath each homered and drove in four runs as the Braves (5-1) rolled in the opener. Dirk Miller, Mark Carlson and Heath each smacked home runs in the nightcap as Bremen completed the sweep.
Carmel 7-9, Deerfield 0-5: Ryan Myers threw a three-hitter with 12 strikeouts and Mike Stonelake had a homer and three RBIs for the Corsairs (5-1) in the opener. Myers had a homer and four RBIs in the second game.
De La Salle 8, Simeon 2: Eddie Williams pitched a three-hitter and struck out 13 as the Meteors (5-0) cruised. Williams was also the hero at the plate, going 3-for-4 with five RBIs.
Driscoll 12-11, Reed-Custer 2-9: Chris Sierak pitched a five-hitter as the Highlanders won the opener. Jack Cwik and Ed Spychalski each had two home runs in the nightcap to lift Driscoll.
Fenwick 11, Proviso East 2: The Friars (2-1) cruised as Pat Bracco earned the win with seven strikeouts and Kellen Kmiecik went 3-for-5 with two RBIs.
Harlan 22-9, Walther Lutheran 8-7: Jerome Burns went 3-for-6 with a home run and two RBIs as the Falcons (3-3) breezed in the first game. David Karris had three hits and three RBIs in the nightcap for Harlan.
More Top Picks How We Test
Libertyville 9-10, Lake Zurich 3-0: Adam Roscher had two hits and three RBIs in the opener for the Wildcats (6-0). John Dwan went 4-for-4 in the nightcap as Libertyville completed the sweep.
Lincoln-Way Central 4-12, Joliet Catholic 3-2: In Game 1, Mike Victor and Mike Foster each scored two runs for the Knights.
Lockport 16, Naperville North 7: Nick Simmons went 3-for-4 with two doubles and six RBIs to lead the Porters (4-0). John Hopkins added four RBIs and four stolen bases for the winners.
Loyola 7, Evanston 6: Mike Mathews’ two-run homer was the difference for the Ramblers (4-0).
Montini 10, Willowbrook 0: Dan Mueller pitched one-hit ball over five innings and Joe Rondinelli went 3-for-3 with two runs scored for the Broncos (3-2).
Naperville Central 10, Glenbard West 8: Willie Potter had a double and two RBIs and Pat Tumilty had two doubles as the Redhawks (3-2) rallied with four runs in the sixth inning.
Nazareth 8-5, Morton 3-3: Ryan Griffin doubled, homered and drove in four RBIs in Game 2 as Nazareth (7-0) swept.
Neuqua Valley 3-5, Larkin 2-4: Keelan Amelianovich homered in the eighth inning to give the Wildcats (4-0) the victory in the opener. Amelianovich also had a two-run homer in the seventh of the nightcap.
Oak Lawn 10-10, Agricultural Science 2-0: Jason Clarke went 3-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs in the opener for the Spartans (6-2). Clarke added three hits and two RBIs in Game 2.
Reavis 8-11, Eisenhower 0-6: Bill Gomolka pitched a four-hitter with 11 strikeouts in the opener for the Rams (4-2). Gomolka’s RBI single ignited a five-run 10th for Reavis in the nightcap.
Richards 19-9, Tinley Park 10-12: Erik Lis went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs in the opener for the Bulldogs (3-1). Tim Kamin of Richards had a grand slam in the second game.
St. Charles North 9-10, DeKalb 6-7: Zach Knobel’s bases-clearing double in the fourth inning of the opener gave the Stars the victory. Mike Pisano belted a three-run homer in the nightcap for St. Charles North.
St. Laurence 10, Curie 0: Keith Garner fired a two-hitter and struck out nine to lead the Vikings (4-2). Mike Shirkie and Brendon Cody each had three RBIs for St. Laurence.
Schaumburg 12, Lake Park 3: Joe Atamian went 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs as the Saxons (5-0) cruised.
Shepard 4-4, Mt. Carmel 3-7: Mike Novak’s two-run single was the difference for Shepard (2-4) in the opener. Brett Kellam went 3-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored as Mt. Carmel salvaged the sweep.
Stagg 16, Marist 1: D.J. Wabick went 2-for-4 with four RBIs to carry the Chargers (5-0).
Stevenson 11-2, St. Viator 5-10: Joey Bonnadonna went 3-for-5 with three runs and two stolen bases as Stevenson (4-1) won the opener. Kevin Carkeek hit a two-run homer while Collin Korab struck out eight over five innings as St. Viator (2-3) won the nightcap.
West Aurora 21, Geneva 5: Joe Rokop and Garrett Oros each had three hits and a home run for the Blackhawks (2-1).
Wheeling 12, Grayslake 11: Ricky Carranza scored on a wild pitch to cap an eight-run rally in the bottom of the seventh for the Wildcats (2-3).