Bad Second Inning Plagues Hornets

DARIEN – Downers Grove South’s baseball team was one of the most hyped teams in the state coming into the season.

But the Mustangs didn’t get off to the start many expected of them.

Following Wednesday’s 8-4 West Suburban Gold win over Hinsdale South, however, the Mustangs feel like they’re right on track. The win came on the heels of an impressive, three-inning performance Tuesday from ace pitcher Nick Burdi, who’s bouncing back from an illness. Burdi will resume his normal spot in the rotation Tuesday against Addison Trail.

“We talked before the game about getting it going,” Downers South’s Nick Radenkovich said. “The weather is nice now. We don’t care where we’re seeded. We’re ready to play. We’re ready for playoff baseball. It really started today, on the road against a really quality opponent. This is the first time we’re full strength now in about a month. It feels really good.”

Things didn’t start out so well for Downers South (14-8 overall, 7-4 WSC Gold) Wednesday. The Mustangs left the bases loaded in the top of the first and Hinsdale South (13-8, 8-3) followed it up with two runs in the bottom half of the inning on Nick Sarocco’s two-run single off of DGS starter Nick Rizner (4-1).

The Mustangs responded in the second, however, off of Hinsdale South starter Tyler Langosch (4-1). Kevin Strelak reached on an error with one out to start the rally. Radenkovich singled and Kyle Engel plated both with a double to tie the game. He scored on a Matt Wivinis sacrifice fly and Nick Vanek capped the inning by singling in Jake Wolf.

Rizner then kept the momentum on the side of the Mustangs with a swift 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the second, and they stayed in control.

“When a team gets a big inning like that, you have to bounce back and punch them right away and get after it,” Hinsdale South coach Kraig Conyer said. “It was a fast 1-2-3, about 10 pitches, and they kept the momentum. I felt like we started putting pressure on ourselves in that inning, and you can’t do that, because it just keeps giving them the momentum.”

DGS extended the lead in the fourth on a massive two-run home run to left from Wolf. That came directly after the Hornets’ last real push to get back into the game in the bottom of the third.

Rizner walked three to load the bases with one out. Sarocco made good contact, but his sharp grounder led the shortstop Radenkovich right to the bag and he converted a 6-3 double play to end the threat in dramatic fashion.

“When I used to pitch, getting double plays is just a confidence booster from the bottom to the top,” Radenkovich said. “That double play with the bases loaded, that was huge, really a rally killer.”

In addition to starting a pair of double plays at short, Radenkovich also went 3-for-3 with a double; a stolen base and three runs scored from the No. 9 spot in the order.

“He’s been struggling, so that was huge for him because it translates to good defense with him,” DGS coach Darren Orel said. “It gives him a good, positive feeling. Really happy for him.”

Hinsdale South’s other two runs came in the sixth when Kirk Wells doubled in Sarocco and Chris Massimillian scored on a double play.

The finale of the three-game season series will be at Downers South Thursday at 4:30 p.m.