Loerop’s RBI single in eighth proves to be game-winner for Trojans.
By Mike Miazga
Correspondent
The Timothy Christian baseball team swept a recent Metro Suburban Conference Red Division two-game series against Elmwood Park.
Timothy won the opener 3-2 in eight innings. The Trojans jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning. Brian Schiff singled on the first pitch of his at-bat, driving in Jimmy Allen who had walked and stole second and third bases.
In the third inning, Noah Marrera walked and advanced to third on passed balls. Schiff then drove him in with his second RBI-single of the game.
Elmwood Park scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game. Nick Huisman retired the first Elmwood Park batter in the seventh and then surrendered a walk and a double. Jakob Loerop came in relief and struck out the first batter he faced. He retired the side on a fielder’s choice ground ball to end the threat.
In the top of the eighth, Schiff hit his third single of the game and advanced to second on a ground ball. Loerop then singled to right to drive in Schiff with the go-ahead run.
Allen pitched a scoreless eighth inning to earn the save. Huisman started, going 6 1/3 innings. He struck out eight and allowed only six hits. Timothy had seven hits in the game. Allen had a double.
Timothy won the second game of the series 14-4 in five innings, thanks to an eight-run outburst in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Elmwood Park scored two unearned runs to grab a quick first-inning lead, but Timothy came back and scored three runs in the bottom of the first. Allen walked and moved to second on a Josh Anderson single. Marrera doubled to score Allen with Anderson stopping at third. Joey Davidson grounded out to score Anderson. Marrera advanced to third and then scored on Schiff’s single to center.
Elmwood Park used three singles in a row to score a run in the second inning. In the Timothy half of the frame, Allen walked, stole second and scored on an Anderson single.
Timothy scored two more runs in the third inning. Huisman singled and Connor Gwaltney was hit by a pitch. Loerop moved both runners up with a sacrifice bunt. Allen then doubled to right scoring Huisman and John Tazelaar, who was running for Gwaltney.
Elmwood Park got an unearned run in the top of the fifth. Allen came in to pitch with one out in the fifth and shut down the threat.
In the eight-run bottom of the fifth, Gwaltney doubled, Loerop singled, Shawn VanTholen walked, Allen doubled, Anderson singled, Marrera and Davidson each were hit by a pitch, Schiff singled, Huisman singled and Gwaltney singled in his second at-bat of the inning.
Loerop was the winning pitcher. He went 4 1/3 innings and allowed one earned run. Allen picked up his fourth save. Anderson, Schiff and Huisman each had three hits. Allen had four RBI, while Schiff had three RBI. Timothy had 16 hits. Allen had two doubles, while Gwaltney and Marrera each had one double.
Timothy also dropped a 3-0 MSC crossover game to Wheaton Academy. The Trojans were held to five singles in the game. Timothy loaded the bases in the first inning but could not score a run. Only one Timothy runner made it as far as second the rest of the game. VanTholen pitched well, allowing only one earned run.
The Trojans also lost 3-1 to IC Catholic Prep in another MSC crossover game. Timothy outhit IC Catholic Prep 9-5.
The Trojans scored their only run in the bottom of the seventh. Jonny Strube doubled (his third hit of the game) and advanced to third when Tazelaar reached on an error and then scored on an Allen single.
Anderson, in his first varsity start, took the loss. He went five innings and scattered only five hits and gave up one earned run.
