Lemont extends streak to 12

Updated: May 10, 2011 8:32PM

Some small ball put Lemont in position Tuesday to extend its winning streak to 12 games.

Trailing 4-3 in the top of the seventh, the Indians used consecutive bunt singles to ignite a three-run rally and eventual 6-5 win over host Tinley Park in South Suburban Blue battle.

“We did a good job with the bunting in the seventh inning,” said Lemont coach Joe Rodeghero, whose team improved to 18-6, 10-3. “We have the speed to make things happen.”

Freshman Mike Papierski (2-for-2) led off the seventh by being hit by a pitch. Trevor Murphy and Kyle Milinowisch then laid down back-to-back bunt singles to load the bases with no outs. Gio Schmidt followed with a single to right to score Papierski with the tying run.

The Titans defense then tried to turn a double play on Kevin Goergen’s grounder but instead committed an error that allowed the lead run to cross the plate for a 5-4 advantage. Eric Kirkman’s sacrifice fly provided a much-needed insurance run.

“‘Murph’ has more base hit on sacrifice bunts than he does on drag bunts,” Rodeghero said of his No. 9 hitter. “We tell the kids, ‘Just put the ball in play and put pressure on the defense.’ ”

The Titans (16-8, 8-6) made things interesting in their half of the seventh. They had the bases loaded with two outs and Ryan Bunn at the plate. Bunn hit a routine grounder to Schmidt at second base. Schmidt fielded the ball cleanly but his throw pulled first baseman Josh Ferry off the bag.

One runner had already crossed the plate and pinch-runner Josh Narbiaz tried to score all the way from second base. Ferry, however, easily gunned him down to end the game.

“It’s disheartening,” Tinley Park coach Brian Gibbons said. “I give our kids credit for coming back.”

Tinley Park pitcher Andrew Sebastian went the distance, scattering 10 hits, walking two and striking out seven in a 111-pitch outing.

The Titans, who had 11 hits, rallied from a 2-0 deficit and led 4-2 heading into the sixth.

Bunn (2-for-4) drove in two runs and Max Lapthorne (2-for-4) and Nelz Ursich one each for Tinley Park. Owen Griffin, Cameron Hickey and Adam Gunther all had two hits.

“We hit the ball well,” Gibbons said. “Ryan Bunn has been really hitting the ball the past five or six games.”

Dan Lombardo’s RBI single in the sixth got the Indians to within 4-3. Lombardo was 2-for-4.

Mike Hall drove in one of two runs in the second for Lemont. Kirkman got the win in relief, allowing one run on four hits and striking out four over 32/3 innings. Jeremy Santiago earned the save.

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