Sandburg’s Sal Zambuto shut out Bremen 11-0 Saturday with the help of a fastball that was significantly faster than any pitch he delivered in previous seasons.
And 5-foot-10-inch, 170-pound leadoff man Brian Gabryel, who never will be mistaken for Mark McGwire or Frank Thomas, flexed his muscles and cranked an opposite-field, two-run homer into the teeth of a fierce 25 m.p.h. wind.
After coach Doug Sutor’s Eagles soared to a 6-0 record and dropped Bremen to 0-4, both Zambuto and Gabryel credited their team’s off-season weightlifting program for their performances.
“Working in the weight room improved my velocity at least 5 miles an hour,” said Zambuto, who yielded five hits–all singles–struck out five and walked only one in five innings.
“I knew that ball was out when I hit it,” said Gabryel, a right-fielder. “Our off-season weight program definitely made the difference. If I hit that same ball into the same wind last year, it would have been an easy flyout.”
Sutor said his players lifted weights, under supervision, from 1 1/2 to two hours a day, three days a week, from Thanksgiving through March.
“It really helped Zambuto,” Sutor said. “He gained at least 25 pounds of muscle. He has biceps now. Gabryel isn’t real big, but he always had power. He hit one at Mt. Carmel’s field that must have carried 450 feet. The center-fielder caught it on the softball field.”
Bremen junior Dan Turyna and Zambuto were locked in a 2-0 game until four straight errors donated seven unearned runs in the fifth inning. Gabryel’s homer in the sixth enabled Sandburg to win via the 10-run rule.
Bill Jauss.
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Downers Grove South 2-6, Bolingbrook 0-2: In Game 1, Brent Nakayama (1-0) allowed four hits over six innings for Downers South (5-2). Matt Holzkopf had two hits and three RBIs for the Mustangs in the second game.
Joliet 4, Rich South 2: Matt Zagar’s two-run single in the fourth broke a 2-2 tie and gave Joliet the victory.
Lake Park 6-6, Hoffman Estates 3-10: Lake Park (2-2) won the opener behind a four-run sixth inning sparked by John Peacock’s run-scoring double.
Lyons 3-5, Brother Rice 0-2: In the opener, David Mazurek (3-0) threw the shutout while striking out nine. Joe Wicklander’s two RBIs lifted the Lions (5-1) to the sweep.
Montini 20, Lisle 2: Mike LaMontagna hit a three-run homer and Erik Derby added a solo shot as Montini (4-2) rolled to the five-inning victory.
Naperville North 4-3, Glenbard South 0-2: John Pratapas threw a two-hitter in the opener as the Huskies gained the sweep.
Oak Forest 2-11, Crete-Monee 1-1: In Game 1, Greg Strange threw a no-hitter and Mike Kent singled in Terry McKeon with the game-winning run for Oak Forest (4-1). In the nightcap, the Bengals Reid Speck worked four innings for the victory.
Romeoville 4, Morris 3: Jason Talmage pitched a four-hitter and added an RBI triple and a stolen base for the Spartans (1-0).
St. Charles 4-8, Oswego 2-7: The Saints (4-3) gained the sweep as Ryan Kahlenberg (1-1) notched the victory in the first game and then drove in the game-winner in the seventh in the nightcap.
Seneca 10-13, Streator Woodland 1-3: In Game 1, Chad Caputo didn’t allow a hit in five innings and added a double, homer and four RBIs as Seneca (4-1) swept.
Thornwood 7, Marist 3: Adam Churchill (2-0) allowed four hits in six innings for Thornwood (3-2) which benefited from five Marist (2-1-1) errors in the victory.
Westmont 20-19, Immaculate Conception 4-7: Kevin Holum went 8 for 8 with a homer and seven runs scored, and Matt Wieczorek had three hits and collected six RBIs for Westmont.
Wilmington 6-13, Grant Park 0-3: In Game 1, Matt VanDuyne allowed three hits and struck out nine and Andy Cooper had three hits and three RBIs for Wilmington (4-3). Jon Gierich sealed the sweep with four hits and two runs scored.