Beecher falls to Elmwood Park

Beecher's Tim Johnson (left) catches the ball as Elmwood Park's Kyle Gruber (20) slides into second.
(Jason Han/SouthtownStar)

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Beecher coach Kenn Krizan has just three seniors on his roster this season. He knows that this year’s team is a bit of a work in progress.

“We’ve got the big ‘P’ (potential), that’s for sure,” Krizan said. “Right now it’s a matter of us transferring that potential onto the field. That’s the hard part.”

Friday, the Bobcats displayed some of that potential but it wasn’t enough as they fell 6-4 to visiting Elmwood Park in a nonconference game.

“We did some good things today, and we also made some mental and physical errors out there today, too,” Krizan said.

The Bobcats (2-4) totaled six hits, led by senior Adam Howard (3-for-4, RBI).

“Adam had a great game today, a great game,” Krizan said. “And, it was important for him to have one, because he’d been struggling as of late. We really need him to hit.”

Senior Brad Mead (2-1) took the ball for the Bobcats and performed well despite the chilly conditions, allowing six runs on six hits while walking four and striking out six.

Mead escaped a jam in the opening frame after Elmwood Park’s first two batters, Zach Sciacostta and Mike Munoz, reached base. After loading the bases with one out, Mead righted himself, striking out Craig Pauga and coaxing John Schoenneman to hit a high chopper to Bobcats third baseman Zack Stluka for an inning-ending force play.

“Brad is a high-ball pitcher, and the high strike really wasn’t being called today,” Krizan said. “It was tough for him out there, but he did the best he could.”

Junior Sean Brennan came on in relief of Mead in the sixth and turned in a strong effort, retiring all six batters he faced, fanning four.

“Sean had struggled a little bit, too,” Krizan said. “He did a real nice job of coming in there and giving us a chance here today. That was big.”

Beecher took a 1-0 lead in the first when Mead (walk) scored on a sacrifice fly by Stluka.

Elmwood Park (6-4) took a 2-1 lead in the second on a two-run double by Munoz. The Tigers made it 3-1 later in the frame when Munoz scored on a Bobcats infield error.

Beecher got a run back in the third when Matt Gocal scored on a wild pitch by Schoenneman (2-1). Kyle Gruber gave Elmwood Park a 4-2 advantage with an RBI single in the fourth. That lead was stretched to 6-2 in the fifth on a two-run single by Sciacostta.

The Bobcats received run-scoring singles in the seventh by Howard and Stulka.