Buffalo Grove's Sophs Start at 10-3 Rolling Meadows Freshmen Look Sharp with 7-3 Performance

Buffalo Grove's sophomore baseball team got off to a strong start with a 7-0 win against Elk Grove.

The Bison's pitching staff did not allow any hits during the 7-inning game.

Jeff Pink (13 strikeouts, 7 walks) pitched six innings, and Jordan Nichols (1 strikeout, 1 walk) pitched the last inning in the win that helped the team get out to a 2-0 start in the Mid-Suburban East and a 10-3 overall record.

"We are pitching real well," said coach Norm Hillner.

Pink (3-0, 24 innings, .029 ERA, 38 strikeouts) and Tim Jensen (2-1) lead the pitching staff that includes Bob Sajdak, Joe Saviano (1 victory, 1 save), Jason Shearn and Matt Weber.

The pitchers are getting defensive support from Saviano, at second; Jason Cutler, at third; Shearn, as catcher; Ryan Baum and Trevor Kahn in the outfield.

Dan Solley (.500 in 14 at-bats) has the highest average, but regular players Pink (.405), Sajdak (.363), Rob Forshall (.324), Shearn (.316) and Dan Love (.310) are also consistent hitters.

Pink (15 RBI), Love (11) and Shearn (13), the 3-4-5 hitters, have the most runs.

Steve Hardy is getting on base as leadoff and has 10 stolen bases.

Freshmen. The future is looking bright for the Bison freshmen (8-5, 1-1 in the East) because they are highly competitive. They lost one game late to Hersey but beat Elk Grove.

One reason for the Bison's success is a crop of left-handed pitchers.

"We have seven guys who can go," said coach Brian Biernacki. "Four of them are lefties."

Jason James (3-0), who has 25 strikeouts and 3 walks, Mike Petrie (3-1), Brett Carroll (1-1) lead the group. They are getting good support from the defense, including Nick Gord, at shortstop; Brian Mucha, at third; Tim Macasek, at second; Eric Crost, in center; and Dan Maro behind the plate.

Crost (.400), who has 2 homers and 4 doubles, leads the team with 15 RBI.

Maro (.450), Mucha (.380) and James (.380) are leading the hitters.

Greg Skyles, Steve Brown and J.R. Salinas in several other positions also are chipping in.

-Jeff Clarkson

Rolling Meadows

If the pre-Mid-Suburban East Division season is an indication, Rolling Meadows' freshman team could do well in the division.

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information: Article title: Buffalo Grove's Sophs Start at 10-3 Rolling Meadows Freshmen Look Sharp with 7-3 Performance. Contributors: Not available. Newspaper title: Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL). Publication date: April 30, 1999. Page number: 5. © 2009 Paddock Publications. COPYRIGHT 1999 Gale Group.

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