The hours and hours that Brian Maize spent last summer working on his defense around first base came in handy Tuesday when visiting Rolling Meadows posted a 2-1 victory over archrival Prospect to win the Mid-Suburban League South Division title.
The Mustangs finished 19-6, 12-4. Second-place Prospect finished 19-7, 11-5. For the past decade, the title has been the possession of either Rolling Meadows or Prospect, with the exception of 1986, when Hoffman Estates won it. Maize, whose two-run, first-inning home run off Prospect`s Eric Porter provided all the Mustangs` offense, turned a bases-loaded line drive off the bat of the Knights` Mike Olson into an inning-ending double play in the fifth.
Two innings later the 6-foot-2-inch senior turned a dandy pick-up into a forceout that prevented the Knights from scoring the tying run.
”I wasn`t the greatest fielding first baseman last year,” said Maize, who had three of the four hits that Porter allowed. ”Now I want every ball hit to me.”
”He was a subpar infielder last year,” said Rolling Meadows coach Al Otto. ”He worked all summer as hard as anybody has ever worked.”
”That line drive was the ballgame. We weren`t going to score any more off Porter.”
Maize, who hit a Porter curveball over the picket fence in right field, wouldn`t have hit in the first inning if winning pitcher John Valentin hadn`t reached first on catcher`s interference.
Maize`s offense and defense backed Valentin, who surrendered 9 hits and left 12 Knights stranded but went the distance.
Lane Tech 5, Sullivan 3–Kevin Krebs (7-1) struck out six and allowed seven hits as Lane Tech (21-8, 12-2) claimed a share of the Public League North Section crown.
Clemente 5, Lake View 0–Jose Sanchez (6-3) tossed a two-hitter as Clemente (18-12, 12-2) clinched a share of the North Section title.
Fenger 11, Harlan 1–James Bell powered the Public-Southwest co-leaders with a grand slam and Andre Edwards (5-0) gave up just two hits over four innings for Fenger (13-1).
Simeon 6, Calumet 2–Simeon (32-3, 13-1) retained its share of first place in the Southwest Section behind Henry Tribble`s two-hitter.
Oak Park 4, Glenbard West 3–Ben Shelton (10-1) didn`t allow a hit in 2 1/3 innings of relief pitching and drove in two runs and Eric Stanley scored Kevin Jones (3-for-3, home run) with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning as the top-ranked Huskies (28-2, 16-2) rallied from a 3-0 deficit.
Downers Grove South 9, Morton 8–Dave Kalal had a two-run pinch single, Doug Knoch had a pair of singles and scored twice and Bill Sorenson doubled and singled during a four-run rally for Downers South (12-7 in the West Suburban Gold).
Elmwood Park 3, Holy Cross 1–Dave Brame tossed a two-hitter and Dave Connelly (2-run double) and Tom Carly (RBI single) keyed a three-run sixth for Elmwood Park (5-17).
Lisle regional–Independent School League champion North Shore edged St. Gregory 9-7 in the first round of the Class A tournament. Bill Bach went the distance, allowing seven hits and striking out 12 for North Shore (12-1). Driscoll (14-15) also won, eliminating Walther Lutheran 10-0 in five innings with Cliff Tegle tossing a one-hitter.
SOFTBALL
Ridgewood regional–Sue Tameling (2 RBIs) and Dawn Logan (2 RBIs) had two triples apiece as Timothy Christian (5-14) ripped Chicago Latin 15-5. Heather Utzinger drove in five runs as North Shore (9-5) pounded St. Benedict 15-5 in five innings for the school`s first regional victory.
Oblong regional–Casey (30-0) defeated Dieterich 18-0 in five innings to extend its state-record winning streak to 49 games and break the national record with its 21st shutout. Southington (Conn.) set the previous record in 1983.
Sandburg 3, Richards 1–Sandburg (16-4, 12-0) clinched its second straight SICA North title as Michelle Warren (14-3) fired a two-hitter.
Prospect 4, Hersey 1–Prospect (22-1, 16-0) retained first place in the Mid-Suburban South with Laura Stock (21-1) tossing a two-hitter and Denise Terzic driving in a run and scoring a run.
Crystal Lake South 4, Dundee-Crown 1–Jenni Stark tossed a four-hitter and Kami Lammon drove in three runs as Crystal South (9-7 in the conference)
handed first-place Dundee-Crown (19-2, 15-1) its first Fox Valley loss.
