Cuff collects six RBI for Lyons

Updated: April 30, 2011 6:56PM

Connor Cuff has heard of Ben Zobrist, but doesn’t know what Major League Baseball team he plays for.

The Tampa Bay Rays’ Zobrist had 10 RBI in a doubleheader sweep at Minnesota April 28.

Cuff, Lyons’ senior infielder, had six RBI Saturday in a doubleheader sweep at York. No. 5 Lyons won 3-2 in eight innings and 12-1 in six innings to raise its winning streak to 17 games. Lyons (19-1, 13-0) has not lost since suffering a 10-1 defeat against defending Class 4A state champion Naperville Central 10-1 on March 31.

Cuff had two RBI in the first game off York ace Ryan Hinchley, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound left-hander. After drawing a walk in his first plate appearance, Cuff drove in one run on a swinging bunt single and another run scored on a double.

He had four RBI in the second game on a two-run double and a two-run home run over the left field fence.

“It’s nice. Anything we can do to win is most important,” Cuff said. “That’s what we’re looking for right now.”

Lyons’ winning pitchers were Zach Remijas in the opener and Steve Heilenbach in the nightcap. York (11-8, 5-6) has struggled since winning its first eight games of the season.

Keith Lehmann drove in the go-ahead run in extra innings of Game 1 with an infield single, which scored Brian Rodemoyer from third with two outs. Rodemoyer reached on a wild-pitch strikeout, was sacrificed to second and went to third on a ground out. The Dukes tied the first game on a triple and single with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

“Our pitching has been phenomenal,” Lyons coach George Ushela said. “We are not walking people and we’re making plays behind them. Zach pitched out of a couple of jams. Some days we hit the ball well.”

Lyons will play at Hinsdale Central at 4:30 p.m. Monday in a makeup game before hosting York at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

“It’s awesome right now,” Cuff said. “Everyone is getting along now. That’s the most important thing.”

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