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Polito, LC blank Trojans
HIGHLAND - Lake Central brought a thundering offense into Highland on Friday afternoon, having scored 44 runs in its previous three games. But it was an opportunistic Indians offense that defeated Highland 4-0 in a Northwest Indiana Tournament game.
The Indians (8-0) scored two unearned runs in the top of the second and added two runs in the fifth for their eighth victory of the season.
Jordan Polito earned his second victory of the season, working five innings, scattering four hits with five strikeouts. He helped himself at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and scored a run.
What Polito did on the mound helped cement his second victory of the season. Polito helped stymie a couple of Trojans scoring chances with timely pickoffs of Highland base runners.
Mike Gamaleri led off the Trojans' half of the third reaching on an error. Billy Gerstner followed up with a single, giving the Trojans (4-2) first and third with nobody out. Polito faked to third and fired to first, catching Gerstner halfway between second and third.
Indians second baseman Eddie Molderhauer then fired a strike home, catching Gamaleri halfway between third and home. Polito then struck out Will Kerber to end the inning.
The Trojans had opportunities again in the home half of the fifth as Kyle Stephens, Highland's designated hitter, led off with a walk, followed by a Gamaleri single. Polito picked Stephens off second and stuck out Gerstner and Kerber to end the inning.
"Polito is our smartest player," said Indians coach Jeff Sandor. "He's highly intelligent and he has a knack for making big plays in those situations. He really saved our butts a couple of times today. They (Highland) are a quality team and a sectional opponent."
Trojans starter Matt Knesek pitched seven innings, giving up four runs but only two of those were earned. Knesek allowed five hits, walked three and fanned four Indians hitters.
"We had our opportunities today, but we shot ourselves in the foot," said Trojans coach Dan Miller. "We had some poor base running out there today, but Matt kept it close and we just couldn't come up with the timely hit. They scored 44 runs this week so to hold them to only four is pretty good."
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