Sandburg pitcher Joe Greenfield admitted it had been a tough couple of days.
The Eagles fell to Southwest Suburban Blue rival Homewood-Flossmoor on Wednesday, and the senior had a difficult time thinking about much else.
Greenfield will sleep fine Friday night after getting revenge on the Vikings by going the distance in an 8-3 win in Flossmoor.
“I wasn’t thinking about much else in class the last few days. I’m sorry if my teachers felt like I wasn’t really there,” said Greenfield, who improved to 7-1. “It’s a big rivalry to begin with, so when they knocked us off on Wednesday it really had us ticked off and jacked up for Friday’s game.”
Greenfield had 15 strikeouts in a win Monday, but Friday’s win over Homewood-Flossmoor (19-6, 5-5) was a grind. He went seven innings, giving up two runs, scattering eight hits, striking out three and walking three.
“It was tough. The Vikings weren’t going anywhere, and it seemed like every inning they had a chance to break it open,” Greenfield said. “I felt like I was battling all game, but every inning we seemed to find a way to get out of a jam with great defense behind me or the right pitch that seemed to work.”
Nick Bates sparked (Sandburg 21-9, 9-3) with a 4-for-4 performance. His two-run home run in the fourth inning gave Sandburg a 5-1 lead and Greenfield some breathing room.
“I was seeing the ball well all day,” Bates said. “Once I hit that home run, I felt like we were in command and could grab a win on the road if we just kept it going for a few more innings.”
Nick Carney hit a solo home run and the Eagles scored on an error in the seventh inning to take an 8-3 lead before Greenfield pitched the final inning.
“I felt good and I was excited to close it out on my own,” Greenfield said. “It’s a great feeling to beat a team that you play against for four years, and then throw in the fact that H-F beat us two days ago — this feels good.”
Player of the game:
Joe Greenfield, Sandburg, 7 innings, 2 runs, 8 hits, 3 strikeouts.
Key performers:
Sandburg — Nick Bates, 4-for-4, home run; Homewood-Flossmoor — Jack Sheehan, 3-for-3, 3 runs.
