Ludwig sharp as Naperville Central wins

Photos: WW South vs. Naperville Central

Updated: April 25, 2011 6:28AM

With an unexpected week off and resuming its baseball season on a cold, windy afternoon, Naperville Central's mindset was simple – give the ball to its ace and let him go to work.

Taking the mound for the first time in eight days, senior left-hander Dan Ludwig led the way in going the distance as the Redhawks pulled out a 4-3 victory over Wheaton Warrenville South on Wednesday.

In throwing 128 pitches, Ludwig improved to 3-1 on the season after allowing just two earned runs, scattering six hits and tying a career-high in strikeouts with 13.

"Definitely trying to keep them off-balance," said Ludwig, who turned in his second consecutive complete game and the 10th in his career. "Making them get ready for a fastball, going over some curveballs, keeping some changeups to keep things off-balance. The curveball was definitely the pitch I was using to strike out kids on."

Naperville Central (9-4, 4-0 DuPage Valley) has now won a season-high five straight games after dropping consecutive games to Palatine and No. 1 Providence.

Seeing his start under the lights at Benedictine University on Monday go by the boards because of all the nasty weather in the area, Ludwig fanned at least two Wheaton Warrenville South hitters in five of his seven innings and eight Tigers struck out at least once.

At times, Ludwig's dominance evoked memories of Shane Conlon's start at Benedictine against the Tigers on April 20, 2010 where he struck out a career-high 14 in a 5-1, complete-game victory.

Ludwig stranded two runners on in the seventh, including the potential tying run in scoring position, by fanning Jeremy Rhoades to end the game. He left two more runners on in the fifth – after the Tigers had scored two runs to take their first lead – by striking out Tigers shortstop Parker Ryndak to limit the damage.

"This was all about Luddy making pitches and overcoming some interesting defensive strategies," Naperville Central coach Bill Seiple said of Ludwig.

Wheaton Warrenville South's two-run fifth was opened up by the Redhawks' inability to catch a popup off the bat of Matt Sturgeon, which permitted the Tigers to get their first two runners on to begin the inning.

Rhoades scored the Tigers' first run of the game in the fourth by getting on base courtesy of an error from Redhawks second baseman Ross Murphy.

Central's 2-0 first-inning lead go by the boards after the Tigers scored the three runs over the course of the fourth and fifth innings. But right fielder Mike Riordan's well-placed single over the outstretched glove of R.J. Hoshell scored center fielder Jim Nashert with the eventual game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth for Naperville Central, ensuring that Ludwig's effort wouldn't go for naught.

"I just wanted to make sure I at least put the ball in play," said Riordan, who went 2-for-3. "I know with the infield in, Coach Seiple always says everyone's batting average always goes up 100 points. So if you put it in play, you're most likely going to get on. Just focus on some contact."

Rhoades took the defeat for Wheaton Warrenville South (6-7, 2-2 DuPage Valley) after giving up four runs on eight hits in his six innings.

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