It doesn`t qualify yet as winning ugly, but St. Rita baseball coach Jim Prunty believes his Mustangs are playing just well enough to win.
St. Rita came from behind Tuesday against one of the better pitchers in the area to beat St. Ignatius 6-4.
J.J. Wilczewski doubled home a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to give the Mustangs (9-1, 1-0 in the Catholic League) a 5-4 lead against Northwestern-bound Ben Flammang. Chris Bystriansky then doubled home Wilczewski to give St. Rita an insurance run.
Jason Wallace (3-0), who hadn`t pitched in 12 days because of rainouts, struggled but earned the win. He gave up six hits and walked five, and two of the four runs were unearned.
”It was very important to get the first league win against a quality pitcher,” Prunty said. ”We haven`t played great, but we`ve played solidly and effectively.”
St. Laurence 9, Brother Rice 0-Chris Koloffon tossed a three-hitter and Frank Mateja drove in three runs in St. Laurence`s Catholic League opener.
Andrew 6, St. Laurence 4-Winning pitcher Zack Pringle struck out eight and hit a bases-loaded triple to lift Andrew (11-0), No. 1 in the Tribune rankings, to the non-conference win. Mike Olson added three hits and an RBI.
Bremen 12, Thornton Fractional North 2-Winning pitcher Jim Corbett (3-1)
drove in two runs with two hits as Bremen (8-5, 1-0 in the SICA Central)
pounded out 11 hits.
Richards 8-4, Bloom Trail 3-6-Bloom Trail`s Gordon Sharkey had six hits on the day, including a homer and four RBIs.
Marist 15-11, Shepard 2-14-Eric Brier hit two two-run homers and Guy Sisto added a solo shot in the opener. Shepard (6-5-1) earned the split behind Keith Milazzo (3 for 5, grand slam, five RBIs) and Jim Dallio (HR, three RBIs).
Thornwood 6-0, Lockport 3-5-Todd Gniewek`s three-run homer helped Lockport (7-1-1) gain a split.
Thornton Fractional South 11, Hillcrest 4-Scott Brouwenstyn and Mike Fichter each hit home runs as T.F. South (8-4, 1-0) had 11 hits in the SICA Central.
Reed-Custer tournament-Freshman Jeff Horath scattered eight hits and Jason Garrelts` RBI double in the sixth gave Reed-Custer (11-6) a 1-0 victory over Hudson (Mich.) for the title.
Lake Forest Academy 9, Morgan Park Academy 4-Matt O`Brien (2 for 3, two RBIs) homered and Jesse Roberts (3 for 4, two RBIs) chipped in in the Independent School League.
Chicago Christian 17, Oak Lawn 2-Mike Derkacy went 4 for 4 with two triples and three RBIs, and Eric Van Namen added two hits and four RBIs for Chicago Christian (6-3).
Curie 8, Kelly 7-Ariel Velasquez`s single in the seventh won it for Curie (8-6, 4-0) in the Public League Central West.
Washington 10, Bowen 7-Julio Herta had a two-run triple and Mike Martinez added two RBIs.
Fenger 12, Julian 1-Katara Terrell pitched a five-inning no-hitter for Fenger in the Public League Southwest. Offensively, David Holloway (2 for 3, two RBIs) and Floyd Nichols (3 for 4, two runs scored) led the Titans.
Morris 13, Plainfield 3-Mike Greene, Ryan Pery and Mark Raciti all had two hits in a five-inning walk for Morris (12-1).
Minooka 11, Yorkville 3-Winning pitcher Mark Waddell helped himself with two doubles and three RBIs and Shane Preen drove in three runs on three hits for Minooka (8-0-1, 1-0) in the Little Seven.
Evergreen Park 6, Riverside-Brookfield 3-Evergreen Park (6-6, 1-0 in the Southwest Suburban) scored five times in the seventh. Brian Olenick and Mike Izzo delivered run-scoring hits. Tim McKenna fanned 12 for the win.
Lisle 5, Coal City 3-Brian Krol had 13 strikeouts for Lisle (6-3, 2-2 in the Interstate Eight).
