By Drake Skleba
For the Bugle
After winning in walk-off fashion on Thursday at Plainfield East, the Bengals (14-2, 5-1) jumped out to a 5-1 lead and cruised behind a complete game masterpiece from Luke Lamm (4-0). Lamm in his last start on April 11, fired a no-hitter at the Steelmen of Joliet Central.
On Friday, Luke settled for a five-hitter with seven strikeouts. After Minooka had rallied on a couple of unearned runs, in the bottom of the seventh, to close to within 5-3, Lamm finished off the Indians. with his seventh punch-out to end the game.
“My fastball was my best pitch tonight,” Lamm said, “My defense was outstanding behind me and it feels great to sweep a great Minooka team.”
Red-Hot Bengal DH Andy Hoffman, got the Bengal party started with a booming RBI double as East jumped out on top 2-0 lead in the first inning.
“Big win and it was great to get two from a very good Minooka team,” Hoffman said. “Luke was outstanding on the mound for us again tonight. At the plate I have been keeping my back and trying not to do to much and hit the ball to all fields.”
WIU-bound Minooka shortstop Hayden Luczynski, in the bottom of the first, answered with an RBI single.
Sean Hebreard walked with the bases loaded, for the third Bengal run and East would pick up two unearned runs to open the 5-1 lead.
“I haven’t been fortunate to win too many games against Minooka in my coaching career,” Plainfield East head coach Adam O’Reel said. “With the great job Jeff (Minooka head coach Jeff Petrovic) has done here, wins have been very few. It feels great to come in here and get although what I don’t consider a sweep, it still was a great two-game series win.:
“Luke (Lamm) pitched another outstanding game for us tonight,” O’Reel added. “After throwing a no-hitter in his last start, he came back tonight and pitched well.”
Minooka’s (8-5, 3-3) Cherokee Lebeau’s booming RBI double made it 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Junior Dean Procarione had two singles for the Indians and allowed an unearned run in his two quality innings in relief.
SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE
Oswego East 7 Joliet Central 0
Oswego East (10-3, 6-0) took over the top spot with the SPC win over the Steelmen (7-8, 0-6) on Friday.
Oswego 5 Joliet West 0
Under the lights in Oswego, Jackie’s Field of Dreams Stadium, the Tigers could only muster three hits and were shutout by the Panthers (9-4, 3-3). Brett Johnson, Tyler Pransky and Dylan Wolff had the three Tiger hits.
Plainfield North 11, Romeoville 0 (Five innings)
The Tigers (9-4, 4-2) blanked the Spartans (1-14, 0-6) behind Garret Cook and Cam Kissel. Cook had three hits and drove home three Tiger runs while Kissel also had three hits and had two Tiger ribbies. Brady Miller continied his torrid hitting with two hits and two RBI.
Eben Heine picked up the win on the mound for the Tigers.
INTERSTATE 8 CROSSOVERS
Streator 4 Lisle 2
The Lions (8-6, 3-1) jumped out o a 2-0 lead after three innings but faltered in the late innings and fell to the Bulldogs. The Red-Hot Damien Guerrero drove in both Lion runs. Aaron Cail had three hits for Lisle.
Coal City (13-4, 5-1) with their wins the last two days over Herscher and Peotone, once again occupy the I-8 North penthouse.
Manteno 10 Westmont 8
The Sentinels (7-7, 1-4) were outslugged by the Panthers (11-2 4-2) in Westmont on Friday.
Matt Kokoszka, led the Sentinel attack with three singles and two RBI. Alex Marotta hit a booming three-run double, while Riley Basil and Caden Anderson, each had a pair of singles and an RBI for Westmont.
CENTRAL SUBURBAN NORTH
Maine South 4 Vernon Hills 1
The Hawks (9-5, 3-0) took over first place in the CSL South with the win over the Cougars (7-7-1, 1-3). Mike Altman led the Hawk attack with two hits and an RBI. Bobby Rinaldi singled home a Hawk run and Paul Sasso, drove home another Hawk run. Alex O’Malley fired three scoreless innings in relief to pick up the win.
CENTRAL SUBURBAN CROSSOVERS
Evanston 8 Maine East 0
The Demons (5-6, 1-4) fell on Friday to the Wildkits (9-5-1, 2-1.
WEST SUBURBAN GOLD
Downers Grove South 3 Addison Trail 0
Nick Stacy pitched and hit the Mustangs (8-3, 4-0) past the Blazers (5-6, 2-4) on Friday. Stacy fired a four-hit shutout with four strikeouts and drove home the only run he would need at the plate, with two hits. Thursday’s hero Jordan Knoch, had two more hits. Cam Crowley and Brett Riegler, each had an RBI for the West Suburban Gold leaders.
WEST SUBURBAN SILVER
Downers Grove North 4 Hinsdale Central 0
The Trojans (9-7, 6-2) completed their sweep of the Red Devils (5-8, 1-5) on Friday
NONCONFERENCE BAJENSKI
Brother Rice 9 Lockport 3
The Porters (11-3) fell in their Steven M Bajenski Memorial Tournament first-round game, to the Chicago Catholic Blue co-leading Crusaders (14-5). The Porters scored three runs in the first inning. John Weis doubled home a pair of Porter runs while Collin Woulfe singled home the third.