Lyons keeps rolling, sweeps Hinsdale Central

Updated: April 25, 2011 6:24AM

It took only one run to win the first game of Saturday's doubleheader between West Suburban Silver rivals Hinsdale Central and Lyons.

That run came in the bottom of the sixth inning when Tom Walsh scored on Brian Rodemoyer's RBI, bloop single to right field. Rodemoyer struck again in the second game with his fourth home run of the season as No. 8 Lyons swept the Devils 1-0 and 12-2 in five innings in Western Springs.

Senior right-hander Connor Cuff (3-0) struck out a career-high 12 batters and allowed only two hits in the shutout over Hinsdale Central (5-11, 2-3), which hosts Lyons (14-1, 8-0) at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

"(Rodemoyer) always seems to come up big," Cuff said. "He comes up with big hits. That's what we need from him."

Lyons won its 11th consecutive game while Steve Heilenbach pitched a complete game for the win in the second game. Lyons broke the game open with a seven-run fifth inning. Both teams scored two runs each in the first inning.

The first game featured a controversial play in the top of the fifth when the Devils had runners at the corners with two outs. Hinsdale Central attempted a double steal, but Tom Delzenero was caught in a rundown between second and first base. Delzenero was ruled out before Phil Zarcone crossed the plate while trying to score during the rundown.

Hinsdale Central coach Justin Cronin was ejected by the base umpire while questioning whether Cuff should have been called for balk on the play.

Zarcone actually reached third for the second time in the game, but was the only Devils player to get beyond second base. Zarcone reached in the fifth on an infield single while Jacques Camalick singled in the second for Hinsdale Central's only other hit off Cuff.

Hinsdale Central starter Chris Bobo only allowed five hits, three of them in the sixth inning, while striking out 10. The three hits in the inning were all consecutive, starting with Walsh's single to lead off the inning to left field.

It was a tough day for each of the teams' standout sophomores. Lyons' Keith Lehmann, a third baseman, struck out six times in the doubleheader while Hinsdale Central's Adam Dressler (2-1) took the loss in the second game. Lehmann and Dressler were rivals while playing for Little League All-Star teams in Western Springs and Hinsdale and then were teammates in with the DuPage Dragons travel team.

"I've always been close with him. We talk about what we're doing over the summer," Dressler said. "We have not talked about (playing varsity) much this season, but we stay in touch and see how each of us are doing during the season when we face each other."

Dressler left the Dragons to join the Indiana Prospects travel team last summer. The Prospects won a national tournament in Fort Myers, Fla. last year. Both Dressler and Lehmann are in their first varsity seasons.

Lehmann batted nearly .400 last summer while playing with Lyons. He hit his second home run in a 10-0 victory over Proviso East April 21 in six innings. Lehmann has made a few appearances as a relief pitcher, but won his only start with a complete-game, 13-2 victory over Wheaton Warrenville South April 6. He hit his first homer in that game.

With seven seniors capable of starting, Lehmann has not had many opportunities on the mound.

"Overall, I feel comfortable," Lehmann said. "I started off the season badly, but I re-focused and went to the (batting) cages a lot to hit."

Dressler won the duel Saturday over Lehmann by striking him out three times.

"(Lehmann) is taking too many pitches. He's a little too selective," Lyons coach George Ushela said. "He's a good hitter. He's a good player."

The highlight of Dressler's season was April 2 when he beat Louisville-bound pitcher Nick Burdi of Downers Grove South in a 4-2 victory at home. Dressler uses four pitches: a four-seam and two-seam fastball, a curveball and a change up.

"Beating Burdi was huge for me. I knew he was one of the best pitchers in the country. I was up for the challenge. I like a challenge that will get me going," Dressler said. "I've worked hard in the offseason. I was always hoping [to make varsity] since the beginning of my freshman year. Now playing on the varsity level, I got my chance this year. I've wanted to show what I've learned since fifth grade when I started to learn pitching and how to locate."

NEW SCHEDULE: The three games postponed against Oak Park-River Forest earlier this month will be rescheduled for this week.

Lyons plays at OPRF Monday, hosts the Huskies April 27 and then play at OPRF again April 28. Lyons' originally scheduled nonconference game at Downers South April 28 has been postponed.

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