Larkin continues to have Elgin's number

Larkin's Joe Stace (left) and Justin Kalusa congratulate each other during a game against Elgin.
(Michael Smart/Courier News)

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Jake Kane provided the power and John Banks added the precision for Larkin on Monday.

The two seniors played leading roles as the Royals edged host Elgin 4-3 in a typically tight Upstate Eight Conference meeting between the crosstown rivals.

Kane paced the Royals' offense, going 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. He also provided the highlight of the day in the first inning when his two-run homer bounced off the top of a school bus parked beyond the left-field fence.

Meanwhile, Banks (1-0) took care of business on the mound, earning the complete-game victory by striking out seven and walking only one batter while allowing three earned runs on eight hits. He also went 2-for-2 at the plate with a walk and two runs scored.

"You expect your seniors to play big in this series," Larkin coach Doug Ellett said. "They've been around for four years and this means a lot to them, and both [Kane and Banks] did a good job."

The win marks Larkin's third in a row against the Maroons and seventh victory in the past eight meetings between the schools. However, the Royals' recent run of success is somewhat misleading considering that 13 of the past 15 games between the teams have been decided by three or fewer runs.

The trend continued in Monday's contest, which didn't disappoint in the late-inning drama department.

Trailing 2-1 going into the bottom of the fifth, Elgin's Ben Hamblen belted a leadoff double to straight-away center, moved to third on Mike Stackowiak's sacrifice bunt and scored on Tyler Loiseau's two-out RBI single to tie the score at 2.

After the Maroons stranded runners at second and third to end the fifth, Larkin (3-3, 2-1) wasted no time regaining the advantage.

Banks led off the top of the sixth with a single before stealing second and moving to third on a passed ball. Kane then stepped to the plate and ripped a double off the center-field wall to drive in Banks.

Kane later moved to third on a wild pitch before scoring on Luc Geier's groundout to short, and just like that the Royals had regained a 4-2 lead.

"That was big because we just had to get the momentum back and keep it going," Kane said. "We can't get down on ourselves if the other team scores a few."

Elgin climbed to within 4-3 when Tom Roth led off the bottom of the sixth with a single and scored on Isaac Serna's one-out double to right center.

However, the Maroons stranded the runner at second in the sixth, and again left a runner at second in the seventh. Elgin left five players on base for the game, four of which were in scoring position.

"We had chances today," Elgin coach Dave Foerster said. "It was right there for us, it was typical Elgin-Larkin and well-played for the most part."

Roth went 2-for-3 and Dan Schmerber was 2-for-4 to lead Elgin (0-3, 0-3) at the plate.

Serna (0-1) took the loss for the Maroons despite striking out seven in six innings. He allowed four earned runs on seven hits and walked three.

"I felt pretty good," Serna said. "The fastball felt good and the curveball was falling good in there. But that first-inning home run did it for them. They got us with that."

The second and final game of the series is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Larkin.