Naperville North came into its annual series with crosstown rival Naperville Central last Friday with something to prove.
Nineteen innings later, consider that goal accomplished in spades.
Sparked by a six-run first inning, Naperville North completed a three-game sweep of the DuPage Valley Conference leaders thanks to a 12-1, five-inning rout on Monday.
Eight Huskies recorded at least one hit off four Redhawk pitchers – with Jack Whitley’s three hits and two hits each for Brennan Simek and Paul Dobravec leading the way.
Having entered the series on a 10-game winning streak, Naperville Central (19-7, 13-5) is still in sole possession of first place in the DVC with six games left.
With ominous weather on the horizon, the Huskies (12-11, 10-8) wasted little time in getting going against Redhawks’ starter Zac Bianucci.
Three of the first four Huskies to face Bianucci reached base safely – capped by Christian Barczi striking out but getting to first on a passed ball and bringing home two runs.
“Well, at first, obviously I didn’t know it got back there,” Barczi said. “I knew I struck out, so that’s not the best feeling ever. But obviously when I saw it went back and I just hustled. I tried to get to second and I did get to second. That was a huge momentum shift in the whole game because it got some early runs on the board for us and that was huge.”
Eleven Huskies came to bat in the first as eight straight hitters reached base for them after Colin Rivard struck out to begin the game.
Jack Ginzkey’s safety squeeze and Eric Rodriguez’s two-run triple helped finish the six-run uprising for the Huskies.
A throwing error on a Barczi bunt attempt in the bottom of the second led to a run while another error permitted Chris Cassano to score as Naperville North kept the pressure on.
Ginzkey would later add a RBI triple in the bottom of the fourth as the Huskies scored in every inning to aid starter Kyle Cobb (1-1).
“The pressure was huge,” Ginzkey said. “We were just putting the ball in play a lot and forcing them to make plays. Just kind of continuing with the mindset that we had the first two games. We were able then to work our game plan really well and it turned out good.”
One can debate the turning point of the Huskies’ three-game sweep of the Redhawks – with Barczi’s three-run triple off Ryan Eiermann a Friday a starting point.
But in outscoring the Redhawks 24-10, there’s little doubt as to what got things moving in the Huskies’ direction – small ball.
“We just small-balled the heck out of them all weekend,” Barczi said. “Just plays like (the passed ball). Just stuff like that went our way and it’s really cool. It really feels good right now.”
Bianucci (3-3) lasted one-plus innings and was charged with eight runs – seven earned – on five hits while striking out three.
The Redhawks placed their leadoff runner on base in four of the five innings – with Austin Sherman’s two hits responsible for half that total.
Sherman’s solo homer off Cobb to start the fifth allowed Naperville Central to avoid the shutout.
Handed a three-game sweep by its chief archrival, that’s what it’s hanging its hat on with Wheaton North up next.
“It’s disappointing,” Naperville Central coach Mike Stock said. “We talked about it, but you can talk all you want. You got to make plays and it matters and we didn’t make plays. We needed to change it, stop the slide a time or two and we didn’t do it. We didn’t have the kids step up and do it in those early innings when it mattered and it just snowballed.
“We got a great group of kids. It’s important to them. They’re a talented group. They work hard. Right now, I’m just going to say ‘Don’t worry.’ We’re going to get at it (Tuesday’s) practice and then we got Wheaton North this week, so it’s going to be great.”
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