L-Way North stings Andrew

Updated: May 5, 2011 10:33PM

It was billed as a first-place showdown in the SouthWest Suburban Red between Lincoln-Way North and Andrew.

What occurred Thursday was a beat-down, Phoenix style.

North scored four runs before host Andrew had a chance to bat and coasted to a 15-2, five-inning victory.

North’s four-run first was followed by a five-run second. A 9-0 lead with ace Jake Harper on the mound is as good as money in the bank for the Phoenix (18-3, 8-1).

“We had a nice week coming in to this but we didn’t know if we had seen the quality pitching Andrew was going to have,” North coach Joe Skarbek said. “Jumping out to that 4-0 lead put the kids at ease.”

Especially with the St. Joseph’s-bound Harper (5-1) on the hill. The senior left-hander allowed three hits, two walks and struck out seven.

While Harper’s performance warrants praise, it took a back seat to that of North’s offense. The Phoenix registered 15 hits on the day.

Leadoff hitter Jack Irace led the way, going 4-for-4 with four runs and three RBI. His two-run homer in the third upped the North lead to 11-0.

Alex Eaton drove in three runs on a 3-for-3 day, including a solo homer in the fifth.

Marc Hein (2-for-3, RBI, Dominic Hartman (2-for-3, 4 RBI) and the hot-hitting Brandon Collins (2-for-3, RBI) all registered multihit days for the Phoenix.

If Andrew (15-7, 7-2) had any intentions of mounting a comeback, Hartman, a transfer from Homewood-Flossmoor, put them to rest. Up 6-0, his bases-clearing double in the second increased the lead to 9-0.

“He’s a lefty stick who has been hitting the ball well,” Skarbek said of Hartman. “Collins has been on fire. It’s just been ridiculous what he’s been doing.”

Eaton, who drove in the first run of the game with a bases-load walk against Andrew starter Tyler Hook, never expected the outcome to be so lopsided.

“Every time we’ve played Andrew it’s been a close game,” Eaton said. “But when our hitting is on like it was today, I don’t know if anyone can beat us. We came out ready to play.”

There weren’t many bright spots for Andrew, which also committed two costly errors in the second that resulted in five unearned runs.

Nick DiBenedetti, Pat Elget and Greg Bothwell recorded the only hits on the afternoon for the Thunderbolts. Brian Grad and Elget each notched an RBI.

The two teams square of again Monday. Andrew coach Dave DeHaan is hoping for a better result.

“Give them credit, they outplayed us and outcoached us,” DeHaan said. “There’s a reason they’re 18-3. But we’ll come back. Hopefully, we’ll get them on Monday.”

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