League races go down to wire

Updated: May 16, 2011 4:00PM

Expect a wild final week of the regular season as several heated conference title races draw to a close.

The competition is fiercest in the Upstate Eight Conference River Division, where four teams are separated by two games in the loss column. St. Charles East (17-4-1 in conference) and Streamwood (17-4) remain at the top of the standings as they have all season, but St. Charles North (16-5) and Geneva (15-6) are well within striking distance.

The league’s schedule makers couldn’t have done a better job as the Saints and North Stars square off in a three-game series from Tuesday through Thursday. The Sabres and Vikings also meet in a three-game set on those same days.

“I think this is the way we’d all like it to be with four teams having a chance going into the last week,” St. Charles North coach Todd Genke said. “It’s going to be fun.”

The North Stars are the reigning UEC champions after winning the crown last year before the league expanded to two divisions. St. Charles North won two out of three against St. Charles East in the regular season in 2010, but the Saints got the last laugh by beating their rival in a sectional semifinal. The North Stars hold a 14-13 lead in the all-time series.

Before St. Charles East can worry about its crosstown nemesis, it must hit the road to complete a game against South Elgin today that was suspended due to darkness last month. The 5-5 tie will be picked up in the top of the eighth inning.

Streamwood and Geneva also have games today prior to their key series. The Sabres host East Aurora and the Vikings host Lake Park.

In the UEC Valley, Waubonsie Valley (15-6) owns a two-game lead in the loss column on South Elgin (12-8-1) and Lake Park (11-8). The Warriors surged from way back in the pack as the Storm and Neuqua Valley (8-10-1) stumbled down the stretch.

Waubonsie Valley wraps up its league schedule with a three-game series against Lake Park. South Elgin has three games against rival Bartlett in addition to the resumption of its game against St. Charles East.

In the Fox Valley Conference Valley Division, Huntley’s late-season collapse has the Red Raiders looking up at McHenry (17-3) in the standings. Huntley (14-5) and Cary-Grove (16-5) are tied for second in the loss column, two games behind the Warriors.

The Raiders have five more FVC games while McHenry has four to play. Cary-Grove has three league games remaining.

In the Big Northern Conference East Division, Burlington Central needs some help if it hopes to win its third straight league title.

The Rockets (8-2) have completed their BNC East schedule and trail Richmond-Burton (6-1) by one game in the loss column. R-B still has conference games to play against Hampshire, Marengo and North Boone.

Maroons, Royals looking for boost in crosstown series

Elgin and Larkin will try to end lengthy losing streaks when they square off Tuesday at Larkin in the first game of a three-game series. The final two games will start at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday at Trout Park.

The Maroons are in the midst of a 20-game skid while the Royals have lost 11 in a row. Both squads will be in search of their first win in the month of May.

Although their overall records aren’t much to boast about, Elgin (2-25-1) and Larkin (9-20) always seem to bring out the best in each other. The teams split their two meetings last season.

“We’re looking to play good baseball in all three aspects of the game,” Larkin coach Matt Esterino said. “We definitely want to get some momentum before going into the playoffs.”

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