THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2008
Mustangs Are East Champs
The Rolling Meadows Mustangs are your 2008 Mid-Suburban League East baseball champions, closing the deal Monday with a 9-3 win over Wheeling, combined with a Prospect loss.
Ted Metzger came up big on the mound in the clincher, throwing a complete-game 5-hitter and letting his offense do the rest.
Meadows scored seven times in the fourth inning as they blew it open early and cruised to the division title. Coach Jim Lindeman has worried about his defense at times this season but the Mustangs were solid here, committing only one error and making several other outstanding plays.
Meanwhile, Prospect, who had trailed by one game with two to play, fell to Elk Grove 3-2 Monday. The Grens' Mike Czurylo broke up a 2-2 tie with an RBI single in the sixth and EG held on for the win.
Prospect fell to 9-6 in the East and can't catch Meadows (11-4) with only one to play.
That puts the Mustangs in the MSL championship game this weekend against West winner Schaumburg. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Schaumburg.
Meadows held on to its one-game MSL-East lead last weekend by knocking off Buffalo Grove on Friday and Elk Grove on Saturday.
On Friday, the Mustangs won easily with a 11-3 tilt over Buffalo Grove.
Jon Carlson allowed just one hit and one run in six innings of work as the Mustangs cruised. He struck out nine and also had an RBI single to key an 8-run third for Meadows.
Dan Lauria led the offense, going 3-for-5 with a 2-run home run while Ben Sabal was 3-for-5 and Garrett Cannizzo 2-for-2 for the winners.
Connor O'Gara had the only Bison hit off the Mustang ace.
Before the game, retiring Bison head coach John Wendell was honored after 23 years as the Buffalo Grove head coach.
In Saturday's make-up with Elk Grove, Kyle Gaedele pitched a complete game, giving up just one earned run.
Meadows fell behind 4-1 but got back into with when Ben Kamperschroer's RBI singled tied it in the fourth. Gaedele then scored the tie-breaking run as he doubled and scored on a passed ball.
Prospect kept up with Meadows Friday with a 9-0 shutout over Wheeling.
Dominic Pugliese earned the win while Tim Scanlan provided the offense, going 3-for-4 with a home run and 4 RBI. Jason Leblebijian also had a key 2-run triple for the Knights.
Meanwhile, Hersey has quietly had a very strong second half of the season, improving to 7-8 in the conference after a slow start.
The Huskies beat Buffalo Grove Monday 7-6 as Matt Frenzer and Jake Knauss came through with big RBI hits in a 3-run fifth.
On Friday, Hersey topped Elk Grove 8-4 behind a solid pitching performance by Ryan Busse.
Matt Martinski homered for the Grens.
Conant fell 12-7 to Fremd Friday despite two hits from Bobby Colucci and Mark Chereso. The Cougars dropped their game Saturday as well, this time 2-1 to Palatine. Starter Walt Wijas allowed just two hits but the offense failed to provide support.