Lukas McKnight, All-State catcher for No. 3-ranked Libertyville, takes the old adage “a walk is as as good as a hit” one step farther.
Exercising patience at bat and drawing two walks to go with two hits and a pair of RBIs, McKnight helped Libertyville beat Palatine 7-1 Thursday. “A walk sometimes is even better than a hit,” McKnight said. “A catcher realizes how a walk can upset a pitcher and a defense.”
McKnight boosted his batting average over the last three games to .857 (6 of 7) and his on-base percentage to .923 (12 of 13). His two-out, two-run single in the third broke a 1-1 tie.
Barth Morreale scattered six hits, held Palatine (3-4) without an earned run and singled home two runs. Mike Ward also had two RBIs, and Matt Thompson had the other. The Wildcats had nine hits and no strikeouts.
“McKnight’s on-base percentage has been phenomenal lately,” Libertyville coach Jim Panther said. “He hasn’t been getting a lot of good pitches to hit, but he’s been patient and not swung at pitches out of the strike zone.”
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“I’m trying not to be overanxious,” McKnight said. “It’s a little hard to deal with. “But I look at a great hitter like Frank Thomas and see his patience. That helps. So does being a catcher. A catcher sees what happens to a hitter when he’s overanxious to hit.”
Bill Jauss.
Plainfield 5, Lockport 3: Chris Rios’ triple knocked in two runs and sparked a four-run first as Plainfield (1-0) held on to beat the No. 1 Porters in their opener.
Oak Park 7, Barrington 1: The No. 4 Huskies (2-0) broke open a scoreless game with five runs in the third inning, including a two-run single by Gabe Schaab. Schaab finished the game with three singles and three RBIs.
Lyons 7, Naperville Central 1: The Lions (3-1) upended No. 7 Napervile Central (0-1) behind Alan Osborne’s complete-game three-hitter and Josh Sedler’s 2 RBIs.
Antioch 6, Wauconda 0: Antioch (3-0) stayed perfect as Brett McCullum pitched a two-hitter for the Sequoits.
De La Salle 7, St. Joseph 0: Eric Keefner pitched a no-hitter for De La Salle (4-4), striking out 11 and walking three. Mark Mizera went 3 for 3 with three RBIs for the Meteors.
Glenbrook North 11, Lake Forest 0: Dan Halprin went 3 for 3 and pitched a one-hitter over five innings to lead the Spartans (3-0).
Harlan 10, Corliss 0: Richard Turner (2-0) allowed one hit over five innings and Kenyatta Davis had a pinch-hit bases-clearing triple for Harlan (4-1, 1-0).
Joliet 1, Morris 0: Brandon Sing’s solo homer was enough for Joliet (2-0-1) as Mike Rolih threw a one-hitter and struck out 13 for the Steelmen.
Leyden 7, Elmwood Park 0: Ryan Parks pitched his second consecutive no-hitter with seven strikeouts. Parks also went 1 for 2 with 2 RBIs for Leyden (2-1).
Niles North 10, Von Steuben 0: Adam Koss tossed a no-hitter and struck out seven in the five-inning game. David Bloom and Jeff Pearson had two hits each for the Vikings (2-0).
Niles West 7, Clemente 3: Dan Spitz hit a homer and knocked in three runs to lead Niles West (2-0-1).
Richards 4, St. Rita 3: Victor McKeavin hit a two-out RBI single in the top of the eighth to lift Richards (3-0). Joe Dominik (1-0) went the distance for the Bulldogs.
Warren 5, Rolling Meadows 3: Warren (6-0) remained perfect behind Tim Zorich’s two hits and two RBIs. Justin Henry (2-0) struck out five in the complete-game victory.
Waubonsie Valley 3, Wheaton North 2: Billy Block’s RBI single in the bottom of the 10th won it for Waubonsie Valley (1-0). Scott McCloy pitched the final four innings to gain the victory for the Warriors.
Washington 7, Chicago Vocational 2: In the Public South, CVS’ (2-3, 1-0) Robert Gonzales homered, tripled and scored two runs, and pitcher Tim Roland had two RBIs. Roland also pitched a complete game, striking out six.
Softball
Benet 2, Downers Grove South 1: Benet’s Meghan Ward (1-0, four hits, five strikeouts) and Downers South’s Amy Krahula (five hits, seven strikeouts) pitched to a stalemate until Ward knocked in the winning run for the Redwings (2-0) with a single in the top of the eighth.
Chicago Vocational 18, Hirsch 7: Monique Woodson went 3 for 4 with four RBIs as CVS (1-0) rolled in the Public Red South.
Holy Trinity 20, St. Benedict 13: Quiana Young had two homers, a triple and seven RBIs for Holy Trinity (3-1, 3-0 GCAC Blue)
Homewood-Flossmoor 6, Reavis 0: Gretchen Barnes struck out eight and scattered three hits over six innings for H-F (1-0).
Joliet Catholic 4, Plainfield 1: Joliet Catholic (1-0) won their opener as Natalie Legan scattered five hits and struck out five for the victory.
Joliet 10, Lemont 0: Mary Jaszczak had three hits, including a triple, and also pitched the shutout for the Steelwomen (2-0-1).
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Larkin 3, Jacobs 0: Shannon Everett (1-1) pitched the shutout for Larkin (1-1), scattering three hits and fanning four.
Fenwick 2, Mother McAuley 1: Fenwick’s Sarah Chillo broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning with an RBI single, and Asley Ballard (3-0) threw five hitless innings in relief to lift the Friars (4-0).
Queen of Peace 10, Regina 3: In the GCAC Red, Colleen Nugent and Megan Smith had two hits apiece for Queen of Peace (3-3, 1-0).
St. Ignatius 7, Niles West 4: Erin Mackey pitched a three-hitter, striking out eight for St. Ignatius (2-3).
Waubonsie Valley 6, Hinsdale South 0: Bridget Schade and Valerie Wood combined for a three-hitter, and Jen Bamonte had three hits and two RBIs for Waubonsie Valley (1-0).