In a battle for first-place in the Southwest Prairie Conference, University of Missouri-bound Konnor Ash (5-3), led his Plainfield South Cougars (18-7-1, 10-3), past archrival Plainfield North 7-3. Ash had a pair of RBI singles at the plate and the right-hander, totally shutdown the North (20-7, 9-4) attack. On the mound, Ash did not allow an earned run and scattered six hits with nine strikeouts, in his 5 2/3 innings of work. St-Francis-bound Cougar closer Eric Fitzmaurice, fired 1 1/3 scoreless innings of shutout relief, to nail down the save.
“This was a big game today but after this victory, Wednesday’s game is even larger,” Ash said. “We want to win on Wednesday and go to win our school’s first SPC title in a long time.”
Illinois-Springfield-bound Nick Mayerhofer had three hits and scored three Cougar runs. Antonio Gutierrez chipped in with a pair of hits and two RBI,for the Cougars. Nick Enloe added an RBI single.
For the Tigers, Alex Steinbach had three hits and an RBI, while Brady Miller chipped in with two hits and an RBI.
The two rivals will meet at Slammers Stadium in Joliet on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.
Joliet Catholic 6, Benet Academy 3
The rampaging Hilltoppers of Joliet Catholic Academy (17-10-1, 12-1) won for their sixth consecutive time, at Gillespie Field on Monday. Western Iowa CC-bound southpaw Anthony Saldana improved to 6-0 on the season, with a solid 5 2/3 inning performance. Michael O’Brien, Jack Surin and Aidan Tyrell, all had two hits each to lead the Hilltopper attack.
Benet Academy ( 18-8, 8-4) was led by CJ Birck, Brandon Gorz and PJ Wagener, who all drove home a Redwing run.
Minooka 7, Joliet West 4
Minooka (17-8, 9-4) moved into a tie for second in the Southwest Prairie, with Plainfield North (20-7, 9-4) and Oswego East (24-4, 9-4), with the win. Hayden Laczynski had a hit and two RBI, to lead the Indian attack. Cole Alstott, drove home an Indian run while Grant Olson, chipped in with a pair of hits. Tyler Talbott (5-3) picked up the win on the mound for Minooka.
Joliet West (4-19-2, 1-11) was led by Valentino Garfias who drove home two Tiger runs while Adam Scharf chipped in with two hits.
Oswego East 4, Plainfield Central 1
The Wildcats (19-7, 8-5) fell into 5th place in the Southwest Prairie with the loss. Nick Heffernan drove home the lone Plainfield Central run
Oswego 12, Joliet Central 2
The Steelmen (10-15-3, 3-10) were crushed by Oswego in the Southwest Prairie on Monday. JoJo McNair led the Steelmen attack with two hits while Ryan King drove home a Steelmen run.
Plainfield East 6, Romeoville 2
The Bengals (16-11, 5-7) rolled past the Spartans in the Southwest Prairie. Bengal southpaw Danny Balzhiser picked up the win and Billy Pierce nailed down the save, as the two combined to throw a 5-hitter for East. Sean Hebreard had a hit and drove home a pair of Bengal runs.
Romeoville (7-18, 2-11) was led by Fernando Perez and Ethan Green, who each had two hits for the Spartans.
DG North 9, Hinsdale Central 2
The Trojans (15-11, 7-6) handed the West Suburban Silver’s second-place team, Hinsdale Central (18-8, 8-4) a devastating loss on Monday. Tyler Rosen and Sam Cogger, combined for a six-hitter on the mound for DGN. Cogger also drove home a pair of Trojan runs at the plate while Sam Condon had two hits and two RBI to lead the Trojan attack.
St. Viator 11, Notre Dame 9
The Dons (11-16-1, 4-11) fell in an East Suburban Catholic shootout on Monday. St. Viator scored three times in the top of the seventh to steal the victory. Matt Doherty and Bill Iacullo, each drove home three Don runs in the shootout.
DG South 5, Lockport 4 (9 innings)
The Mustangs (20-8) won for the 20th time this season and the seventh in succession, in a nonconference tilt in Downers Grove. With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Nick Stacey sent the large contingent of Mustang fans dancing onto 63rd Street when his walk-off double plated Tyler Rosen, who had singled and a Mustang winner.
Anthony Stellato and Mike Greco both doubled and drove home Mustang runs.
Lockport (13-12-1) was led by Jimmy Heintz who had a double and two RBI while Jake Suchor chipped in with a pair of singles and an RBI.