Baseball Team Swept by St. Charles North, Sophs Win 3 Straight

The Geneva High School varsity baseball team hit its first rough patch of the season last week, getting swept in three close games by St. Charles North over Thursday and Saturday. The Vikings were able to salvage the week with an easy win over Fenton on Friday.

In a single game against St. Charles North on Thursday, the Vikings were able to come back from a 9-2 fifth-inning deficit thanks to 12 walks issued by North Stars pitching. But six free passes to the North Stars plus a six RBI day for SCN junior Nick Gilmore ultimately equaled a 12-11 loss for Geneva.

The Vikings got a little bit of a pick-me-up on Friday thanks to a 15-1 shellacking of Fenton at home. Geneva needed just eight hits to put the Bison down, including doubles from Brad Bernhard and Mitch Endriukaitis. Ryan Millan got the win to improve to 1-1.

It was back to St. Charles North on Saturday, though, where the Vikings dropped both ends of a doubleheader. GHS got a taste of its own medicine in game one, as the pitching staff got shelled in a 17-3 loss.

Game two was a different story, as the Vikings actually had an 8-5 advantage after three innings. The North Stars slammed the door shut, though, and scored in each of the final four frames to get the 10-8 comeback win. Matt Williams and Andy Honiotes both hit home runs for Geneva, who remains at #20 in the Daily Herald’s latest Top 20 poll, released on Sunday.

The sophomores fared better, picking up three wins over Friday and Saturday. As with varsity, they easily dispatched Fenton on Friday, scoring eight times in the first and going on to win 12-1. Jake Weede was the offensive star, driving in three runs with a 3-for-4 day. Bobby Hess and Brett Landrum also knocked in three runners apiece. Blake Salesky notched the win with a complete game, two-hit, 10-strikeout performance.

Game one of a Saturday twofer against St. Charles North went into extras before Jeremy Hanson drove in the winning run with a double to deep left field. Hess and Bryce Rentschler had three hits each; Connor Feeney earned the win with three innings in relief.

Geneva got a scare in game two when starting pitcher Mike Trimble took a liner off his knee in the second inning and had to come out. Brock Chenier took over and gave up just four hits while striking out nine as the Vikings got the sweep with an 8-0 win. Anthony Bragg took command at the plate, collecting three hits and three RBIs.

With three more wins under their belt, the sophomores improved to 17-2 this season.