Batavia, Geneva adjusting to tough UEC

Updated: April 26, 2011 9:52PM

Geneva has watched Neuqua Valley explode for five runs in an inning to hand the Vikings their only loss in the Upstate Eight this season — and in turn they’ve scored six on Waubonsie Valley to come back from four down for a late win.

Batavia has struggled to find its footing in the new conference, but then no-hit River Division leader Streamwood Monday night for a big win.

Such has been the season for two traditional Western Sun Conference powers in their inaugural season in the Upstate Eight Conference.

Geneva coach Matt Hahn and Batavia coach Matt Holm both said UEC play this season has been “everything we expected it to be” — but what exactly were those expectations?

“What we expected was based off the reputation of these teams — you knew they’re well-coached and you knew most of these teams are rich in pitching, and it’s been every bit of that. It’s been just that if not more,” Hahn said. “Every game has been a battle. Every game, if you don’t come focused to play, it’s going to be a challenge.”

Heading into this season, the Upstate Eight has proven to be one of the strongest conferences in the west suburbs. Since 1999, the conference has produced two state champions (St. Charles High School in 1999, Neuqua Valley in 2007), two additional state trophies (St. Charles East was fourth in 2004, Neuqua third in 2008), four Elite Eight appearances and 11 Sweet 16 appearances.

Although the Upstate Eight’s collective resume can’t match those of conferences in the south suburbs or some of the Catholic powers in Chicago and Joliet, it is far from top heavy. Lake Park and Larkin have reached the Sweet 16 in the last decade, and South Elgin and Streamwood are conference leaders this season. Waubonsie Valley was a Class AA state runner-up in 1996 and is perennially strong, as is St. Charles North. And, first-year program Metea Valley has a winning record so far in league play.

Coming in, Batavia brings a recent history of two Elite Eight appearances, but is struggling this season with a 2-8-1 start in the league.

“The Upstate Eight is what we expected — good pitching rotations with no let up,” Holm said in an e-mail prior to the Bulldogs’ win over Streamwood. “The coaches are strong and work to make sure they put their kids in the best position to win every day. We believe we do that too, but it certainly hasn’t shown. Our pitching has been strong, as in most years, but we are facing strong pitching, too, and not putting runs on the board.

“We will need to turn the ship around to show what we are made of, but there will be no mercy as we move through the schedule.”

Hahn said the same thing, even though his Vikings (7-1 in league play) began Tuesday battling for the River Division lead with Streamwood (8-1) and St. Charles East (9-1-2).

“Those are always our first two goals of the year — to put ourselves in a position to win the conference and put ourselves in a position to win a regional. Hopefully we’re able to do that (and) record-wise, we have positioned ourselves to be able to do that,” said Hahn, whose Vikings are 5-1 against the Valley Division and 2-0 in the River. “We also know we still have (St. Charles) East to play, (St. Charles) North to play. We still have Batavia to play, we still have Streamwood to play. As tough as it was before, it doesn’t get any easier either.”

Small school seeding this week

It seems like the baseball season hasn’t really started in earnest yet, in large part due to so many weather-related cancellations and postponements. But, today is the last day of games that matter for Class 1A and 2A teams — at least in terms of postseason seeding. A season summary form is due at 10 a.m. on Wednesday and the seeds will be determined on Thursday.

Aurora Christian should be one of the top seeds in the entire Benedictine University Sectional in 2A. Plano is on the other side of the super-sectional bracket from the Eagles and could be dangerous in the Reed-Custer Regional.

In Class 1A, Somonauk, Indian Creek and Hinckley-Big Rock will all have to beat each other just to get out of the H-BR Regional. Newark is in the Putnam County Regional on the other side of the super-sectional from its Little Ten Conference rivals.

All of The Beacon-News coverage area’s small school programs are part of Benedictine University Super-Sectionals.

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