Minooka starts fast, holds off Andrew

Updated: March 28, 2011 9:38AM

The cold and windy conditions that chilled the Minooka baseball field Wednesday were definitely easier for the Indians to recover from after they held on for a 4-3 victory over Andrew in the season opener for both teams.

"This is my eighth season and we've never lost the first game,'' said Minooka coach Jeff Petrovic, whose team was 31-8 last year.

Minooka led 4-0 after three innings, withstood a fifth-inning rally by Andrew and wildness on the mound in the sixth and seventh innings to win the nonconference matchup.

"We're going to be good this year. We're going to win a lot of games,'' said Josh Jiminez, the junior lefthander who pitched the first three innings and yielded only an infield hit with three strikeouts.

Jiminez, 12-1 last season, faced only 10 batters and induced four groundouts.

"In practices I was a little shaky, but once I got out there today I felt comfortable,'' Jiminez said. "I hit my spots and the defense helped me out.''

"We expect good things from him,''Petrovic said. "He comes out and throws strikes. He's a complete pitcher. He's going to have a good year.''

Minooka is hoping for the same. Center fielder Alex Bebar doubled to lead off the first inning and later scored on a wild pitch. Third baseman Dakota Brown walked, moved to third on two wild pitches and scored on a groundout by designated hitter Nick White.

Carson Neushwander singled in the second and eventually scored the third run on an infield hit by catcher Eric Nurczyk. Brown and Dan Fox both doubled in the third and the Indians managed a run despite a baserunning mistake.

"We're going to have to manufacture runs and we did that today,'' Petrovic said.

Ryan McCollam relieved Andrew starter Dan Truesdale to start the fourth and pitched three scoreless innings.

"Ryan McCollam did a great job of keeping us in the game,'' Andrew coach Dave DeHaan said.

The Thunderbolts rallied with two runs in the fifth. Pat Elget singled, Phil Bria doubled, Brian Grad's single drove in Elget and Greg Bothwell had an RBI groundout.

Minooka senior Spencer Lehmann walked in a run in the sixth before striking out the next two batters to end the inning. Lehmann walked two in the seventh before ending the game with back-to-back called third strikes.

"I finally just settled down. I'm just happy I came back and didn't blow the game,'' Lehmann said.

"We did a lot of good things today. We just couldn't get that big hit,'' DeHaan said. "We've got to find a way to get those guys home. But it's the first game.''

Minooka's second game is Thursday against Batavia before the Indians travel to New Lenox Saturday to face highly ranked Providence.

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