Bates' bat powers Sandburg comeback

Updated: April 6, 2011 3:26PM

Sandburg pitcher Nick Bates was upset with himself Monday for allowing five early runs to Stagg. With his bat and his arm, the senior more than made up for it.

Bates drove in five runs and got the win as the No. 3 Eagles scored the final 11 runs of the game for a 12-5 win in a SouthWest Suburban crossover that was shortened to six innings due to darkness in Palos Hills.

Bates (3-for-4, 2 runs) started the rally for Sandburg (3-1) in the fourth inning by blasting a three-run home run off the football field bleachers beyond the right-field fence. The long ball scored Dan Rizzie and Ryan Parker (2-for-3), who had each singled, and cut the Chargers (2-3) lead to 5-4.

"I really wanted to make up for those runs," Bates said, "but I tried not to do too much. I was looking fastball and I got one on the first pitch and I wasn't going to waste it."

Mike Malfeo led off the fifth with another homer to right to tie the game at five and Stagg imploded after that, committing three errors that led to four unearned runs in the inning.

Bates' two-run single gave the Eagles a 9-5 lead and Rizzie (three runs) launched a three-run bomb in the sixth to close the scoring.

"We've been in a bit of a doldrums offensively," Sandburg coach Doug Sutor said. "Maybe this will get us in a little flow because I thought offense would be our strength."

Bates, meanwhile, took control on the mound after Stagg scored five times in the first two innings.

Just two of Stagg's eight hits came after the second inning as Bates struck out nine and walked four in earning the win.

"I had a little more confidence after coming through at the plate," Bates said.

Brian Valcarcel (3-for-4), who scored on Kyle Belluomini's single in the first, had the big blow in a four-run second for Stagg.

After Sandburg intentionally walked Brad Clark to load the bases with two outs, Valcarcel cleared them with a double to the left-center field gap.

Max Orant followed with an RBI double.

Sean Fewkes was 2-for-3 with a run for the Chargers.

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