Loyola’s Scott Szafraniec and St. Rita’s J.J. Standring, both kickers for their football teams in the fall, hooked up Wednesday in a terrific pitchers’ duel in snowy football-type weather.
Loyola (7-2) snapped a nine-game winning streak by St. Rita (9-2), winning 3-2 because Szafraniec struck out 10 batters, scattered five hits and had better fielding support than Standring, who fanned six and allowed just three hits and one earned run.
“Kicking and pitching are similar,” said Szafraniec. “You have to keep cool under pressure and put the ball between the uprights or throw strikes.”
The pitchers weren’t the only cool folks Wednesday. The game began in sunshine and plunging temperatures and ended amid swirls of snow as Mustang players and fans tried unsuccessfully to rattle Szafraniec.
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“Scott’s been our No. 1 pitcher for three years,” said Loyola coach Ray Del Fava. “When the pressure’s on, he just takes it up to another level. It was Christmas-like weather today. We accepted the unearned runs they gave us, and we made the plays on defense.”
Andrean (Ind.) 5, Sandburg 2: No. 4 Sandburg (7-2) was held to just five hits and helped Andrean’s cause with four errors leading to three runs.
Marian Catholic 9, Thornwood 4: Jamie Rossi had an RBI double and Jason Verde drove in two runs as Marian Catholic (3-2) knocked off No. 8 Thornwood.
Mt. Carmel 2, St. Ignatius 1: Mt. Carmel (7-3, 2-1) scored both runs in the first inning and had Ken Leggett (1-0) hold St. Ignatius to just two hits in the Catholic League South.
Argo 11, Shepard 1: Bill Matl doubled twice and had five RBIs and Joe Matl had three RBIs for Argo (7-7) in five innings.
De La Salle 6, Fenwick 2: Tim Webb (3-2) allowed six hits and struck out 11 to go the distance for De La Salle (7-7, 2-1) in the Catholic League.
Homewood-Flossmoor 5, Lincoln-Way 0: Mike Scheffki (3-1) allowed 3 hits and struck out four in the complete-game victory for Homewood-Flossmoor (6-3).
Hubbard 11, Phillips 1: John Oros had two hits, stole five bases and scored three runs to lead Hubbard in the Public League South Central (13-1, 6-0).
Lindblom 8, Fenger 1: Derrick Kee tossed a one-hitter with nine strikeouts for Lindblom (5-3, 4-0) in the Public League Southwest.
Oak Forest 4, Eisenhower 1: Rocco Mossuto struck out 13, walked five and allowed his only hit with two outs in the seventh inning for Oak Forest.
South Shore 15, Tilden 12: Mike Hart had three hits and two RBIs to pace South Shore (2-4, 2-2) in the Public League Southeast.
Stagg 2, Marist 1: Erik Miller’s two-run single in the sixth was the difference for Stagg (6-6).