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Sandburg gets pep talk, takes down Marist
Updated: April 9, 2011 7:38PM
After absorbing an embarrassing 10-0 loss Saturday at the hands of Romeoville, Sandburg coach Doug Sutor had a little talk with his club.
The message appears to have resonated with the Eagles, who won their third game in a row Wednesday, dumping Marist 5-3 at Howie Minas Field in Midlothian.
"I told the kids I was embarrassed how we played," said Sutor, referring to the Romeoville debacle. "We got off the bus thinking that having Sandburg on your chest other teams are going to roll over for you. It's just the opposite. You always have to bring your A' game."
The Eagles (4-2) looked more like themselves against Marist.
Pitcher Eric Chmielewski threw 5 1/3 strong innings, the defense turned three double plays and Nick Carney drove in three runs.
Chmielewski scattered five hits, walked three and struck out two. Brant Valach notched the save.
"Eric mixed it up, changed speeds and kept hitters off balance," Sutor said. "We have a good defense. You don't have to strike out every batter."
Indeed, the Eagles defense was stellar. Besides three DPs, Carney made a fine play at first base, snaring a line drive off the bat of Marist's Pat Nelson.
The RedHawks (2-7) trailed 4-1 heading into the sixth. But a sacrifice fly by John McKevitt and base hit by Ryan Meyer (3-for-3) off reliever Justin Theisen closed the gap to 4-3.
With the tying run 90 feet away and the lead run at second base, Valach came in and got pinch-hitter Joe Fuks to ground out.
Sandburg tacked on an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI single by Dylan Rajkovich.
"I'm proud of the way the guys battled back," Marist coach Tom Fabrizio said. "The early mistakes cost us, and the guys we're counting on to swing the bats haven't yet."
The scorebook doesn't lie. Two RedHawks errors in the second helped the Eagles score three runs.
Marist's Nos. 3 through 7 hitters were a combined 1-for-9 on the day.
Marist pitchers Mike Annerino and Zach Lewis deserved a better fate. Annerino went three innings and allowed four runs (one earned) on six hits. Reliever Zach Lewis went four innings, allowing one run on three hits.
For Sandburg, Bill Cronin was 3-for-3 with a walk, Mike Malfeo reached base three times (2 walks, single) and Zach Reks was 2-for-4.
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