Rodemoyer powers Lyons past Reavis

Updated: March 29, 2011 11:38AM

Cold weather and a long wait to start the season didn't affect Brian Rodemoyer.

The senior first baseman gave 10th-ranked Lyons Township an extra cushion in the fifth inning with a two-run home run in LT's season opener Monday at Reavis. Rodemoyer went 4-for-5 and drove in five runs in a 9-6 victory.

"I know I had four hits," Rodemoyer said. "I couldn't expect anything like this coming out for the season. It's a great way to start."

Rodemoyer nearly had a second home run when he hit a double in the seventh to one of the deepest parts of the ballpark. He led off the inning with a blast that landed just in front of the 372-foot sign in left-center field. Rodemoyer was thrown out at third base attempting to stretch the hit into a triple.

LT handed Reavis (2-3) its third consecutive loss, but two of those losses have come against ranked teams. Summer league champion Nazareth beat the Rams March 21 and Reavis plays Class 4A state runner-up on Thursday.

Lyons jumped out to a 7-0 lead until Reavis scored four runs on one hit in the bottom of the fourth off reliever Steve Heilenbach (1-0). LT starter Connor Cuff retired all the batters he faced in the first three innings.

Rodemoyer, who hit seven home runs last season, gave Lyons a 9-4 lead.

"Our hitters are an experienced group," LT coach George Ushela said. "I'm pleased with how they did. We did not swing at any bad pitches."

Heilenbach, normally a starter, struggled in his season debut by allowing the first four batters he faced to reach base, including two walks to start Reavis' fourth inning. Lyons also committed two errors in the inning. Rob Rabakozi hit a two-run double that scored the Rams' first runs.

Reavis second baseman Brandon Hines added a solo home run in the sixth inning.

"We've struggled a little bit offensively," said Reavis coach Don Erickson, whose team lost 4-0 to Morris Saturday. "Sometimes it's the weather too. You have to take your hat off to Lyons. They had 13 hits with the wind blowing in. They hit the ball today."

Each team committed three errors. Starter Zach Mackowiak (0-1) gave up nine hits and seven runs in three innings pitched for Reavis.

Lyons scored their first run of the season when leadoff hitter Spencer Mahoney doubled on the game's first pitch thrown by Mackowiak. He scored on Tom Walsh's RBI single later in the first inning. LT added three runs in the second and three runs in the third. Connor Cuff hit a two-run single in the second before Rodemoyer drove in his first run on an RBI single in the second.

LT's first two games of the season were postponed due to cold weather. Lyons was scheduled to play Montini March 24 and Brother Rice on Saturday.

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