Naperville Central tops West Aurora

Photos: Naperville Central vs. West Aurora

Updated: April 13, 2011 3:36PM

Securing the final out of the inning proved difficult for both sides at West Aurora Monday afternoon. Naperville Central managed to do it just a little better than the Blackhawks in an 8-5 victory in the DuPage Valley Conference opener for each school.

All 13 runs in the contest came with two outs. The Redhawks (6-4 overall, 1-0 DVC) delivered six hits after the second out, while the Blackhawks (3-4, 0-1) came up with a pair.

Naperville grabbed a 3-0 lead in the third inning. Mike Riordan and Brian Schiemann each singled to open the frame, but West starter Cody Love was on his way to working out of it after catching a bunt attempt and inducing a flyout. Ian Lewandowski legged out an infield hit that scoredRiordan and Jake DeVoy smacked a line drive down the left field line for two more runs.

The Redhawks increased the lead to 6-0 with a run in the fourth and two runs in the fifth inning. Slicing the lead in half with three runs in the fifth, West kept within striking distance.

But Lewandowski refused to relinquish the lead pitching six strong innings. He fanned six while walking one and retired nine in a row from the second inning through the fourth inning.

Central held an 8-3 advantage with three outs to go. Cody Willis surrendered two runs in the Blackhawks final at-bat, but he recorded the final three outs with whiffs.

"I know we can hit the ball now, and all I tried to do was make them hit the ball to our defense and let them make the plays," Lewandowski said. "Even if they score, I felt we were going to score more than them. That's what I've banked it on so far this year and it's been working."

The Redhawks collected11 hits to the Blackhawks seven. Each team committed one error. DeVoy notched four RBI including a two-out, two-run homer to center field in the fifth.

"Something clicked today and I was seeing the ball a lot better than I have been," DeVoy said. "It was just go up there and swing.

"We were sitting back and looking for the fastball. Everyone was hitting. To put up eight runs everyone has to hit. Up and down the lineup we were smacking the ball around."

Bryce Kirk added a double and a triple while Lewandowski had two singles. Riordan also had a two-hit day including a double.

Omar Fernandez was 3-for-4 with a two doubles and four RBI for the Blackhawks.

Cal Wagner broke up Lewandowski's nine-in-a-row streak with a single up the middle to start the fifth inning. Richie Renner (two hits) singled after a fielder's choice and a strikeout, and Stevie Acevedo reached base after his popup behind second base was dropped. Adam Lipscomb scored on the error and Fernandez kept the inning alive with two-run double over the right fielder's head.

Lipscomb drew a leadoff in the seventh and Renner singled with one out before Fernandez stroked a double into the right center gap with two outs. Willis ended the threat with a strikeout.

"We could have been better with two strikes," West Aurora coach John Reeves said. "Cody pitched decent, but he needed to execute more pitches with two strikes.

"We had opportunities in the game, but didn't take advantage enough."

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