Warriors lose to York in WSC crossover game.
By Mike Miazga
Correspondent
The District 88 baseball season series goes to Willowbrook.
The Warriors swept a recent three-game West Suburban Conference Gold Division series from their district neighbors Addison Trail.
Willowbrook won the opener at home 10-0 behind Ryan Mintz’s one-hit five-inning shutout.
The Warriors led 2-0 after the first inning and then scored eight runs over the third through fifth innings to invoke the 10-run rule. The Warriors had 13 hits.
Ben Espinoza was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Jon Kelso went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. MJ Ranieri went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBI. Mason Kamp was 2-for-2 with a run scored and two RBI. Kyle Ferguson went 1-for-2 with a run scored and two RBI. Mike Dembowski was 1-for-3 with two RBI.
Kelso had two doubles, while Ferguson, Ranieri and Kamp each had a double.
MIntz needed only 66 pitches to toss the one-hitter. He struck out three and walked two.
The Warriors then headed to Addison and won 5-4. Willowbrook led 5-2 after four innings. The Warriors had 12 hits.
Kelso was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Ranieri was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Kamp had a hit and an RBI. Jack Hines went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Marshall McDonnell went 2-for-3 with an RBI. One of his hits was a double.
Jack Nilles pitched the first four innings and allowed three hits while striking out two. He picked up the win. Vince Ruchala pitched the fifth and struck out one, while Scott Kohrt pitched the final two innings and allowed no hits to pick up the save.
Willowbrook pitchers limited Addison Trail to three hits.
In the finale played at Benedictine University in Lisle, Willowbrook was an 8-4 winner. The Warriors trailed 4-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth. Willowbrook scored three in the bottom of the fifth and three more in the sixth to pull out the win. Willowbrook had 10 hits.
Espinoza was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Kelso was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. Ranieri was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Alex Michaelson had an RBI. Kamp had a hit and two RBI. Dembowski had two hits and two RBI, while Jack Hines had a hit and an RBI.
Dembowski and Espinoza each doubled, while Kelso had a home run.
Michaelson was the winning pitcher. He went five innings and allowed three hits, while striking out eight. Will Hines pitched the sixth and struck out one. Ruchala pitched the seventh and also struck out one to pick up the save.
Addison Trail ace Nick Villasenor pitched 4 2/3 innings and allowed only two earned runs and struck out seven.
In other recent action, the Warriors lost 9-6 to York in a WSC crossover game. York trailed 5-2 heading into the sixth, but scored seven runs over the final two innings.
Against the Dukes, Kelso had a run scored and a hit. Michaelson scored two runs. Ranieri had two hits and an RBI. Ferguson had two hits, two runs scored and an RBI. Demobwski had a hit and an RBI. Ferguson doubled, while Kelso tripled.
Eric Grunst, Will Hines and Ruchala pitched in the game. Ruchala took the loss. He allowed no earned runs over the final 1 2/3 innings. Willowbrook pitchers struck out six and gave up four earned runs.
Also, Willowbrook lost 5-2 to Downers Grove North in another WSC crossover game. Downers led 5-0 after three innings.
Willowbrook was limited to three hits in the contest. Michaelson had a hit, as did Trevor Jaloszynski and McDonnell. Willowbrook did not strike out in the game and drew two walks. Jack Hines and Jaloszynski each scored a run. Willowbrook had no RBI, but Downers North committed five errors.
Kohrt took the loss. Jack Hines and Will Hines pitched the final four innings and allowed no runs on three hits.
In the JV game, Willowbrook won 3-1 against Downers North. The Warriors had only three hits in the form of two from John Taylor and one from JT Ceh. Taylor, MIntz and Ruchala each scored a run. Nick Sabatino had the team’s only RBI. Taylor and Ceh each had a double.
Brandon Shissler was the winning pitcher. He went three innings and allowed four hits. Grunst started the game.
Willowbrook was 18-6 overall after the Downers North varsity loss. The Warriors were 10-2 in Gold Division play heading into this week’s action against Proviso East.
