Morton, Downers South battle to split

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Stellar pitching was on full display during Downers Grove South and Morton’s West Suburban Gold doubleheader split Saturday in Berwyn.

In Game 2, Downers South broke a scoreless tie in the 11th inning and pulled out a 2-1 victory to hand Morton its first conference loss. In the first game, Morton left-handed ace Ryan Crowley pitched a three-hit masterpiece in a 4-1 win.

With pro scouts on hand to see his start, the Missouri-bound Crowley (3-1) carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning and finished with 10 strikeouts and two walks. He also had two hits and an RBI single in the first.

“I felt great today,” said Crowley. “I felt in complete control, totally relaxed out there.”

Following Crowley’s quick work of Downers South (6-5, 3-2) was an impressive pitchers’ duel in the second game between Downers South’s Jake Rone and Morton’s Jeremy Wilson.

Rone, a junior right-hander, limited Morton (9-3, 4-1) to two hits in six innings. Wes Manzer worked three scoreless innings of relief before winning pitcher Billy Lyne came in.

Sophomore Nick Burdi earned the save by pitching out of a bases-loaded jam in the 11th.

“I couldn’t ask for anything more from our pitchers,” said Downers South coach Darren Orel. “That was really a well-played game.”

Morton’s Wilson put forth a remarkable effort in the loss.

The junior right-hander pitched 10 innings of shutout ball, allowing four hits, striking out 12 and walking two before leaving the game in the 11th.

“That’s heartbreaking,” said Wilson. “I don’t care about the no-decision; I wish we would’ve won the game.”

Downers South scored two in the 11th, one on Seth Carson’s RBI single and another on an error in the outfield. Morton was led offensively by Vincent Manno, who had five hits in the doubleheader, including 3-for-3 with three runs scored in the first game.