Until Barrington romped to five-inning no-hit victories over both Clemente and Dixon on Saturday, junior pitcher-outfielder Dan Pohlman actually considered himself the weak link on his team.
Well, if that was the case, the chain linking Barrington’s hitting, pitching and fielding is as strong as the Rock of Gibraltar.
Pohlman, who also stars in football, pitched an 11-strikeout 19-0 no-hitter over Clemente and led his team’s 19-hit barrage with two singles, a double, a grand slam and six RBIs.
Dave Mickey then struck out eight Dixon batters in a 10-0 no-hitter that featured 13 hits, including homers by three Broncos: shortstop Frank Favia, first baseman Carter Nottke and catcher Rocky Ermillo.
Both games were halted after five innings because of the 10-run rule. Barrington, directed by first-year coach Jim Hawrysko, improved to 7-0.
“We’ve been hitting all season from top to bottom in the order,” said Pohlman, the team’s cleanup hitter. “But this is the first time I’ve been halfway decent. I’ve been the weak link.”
In the middle game of the three-team round-robin at Barrington, Dixon (2-1) stopped Clemente (2-9) 15-6. Kyle Whitson hit two homers for Dixon, one a grand slam.
De La Salle 4, Rockford East 0: Pat Flynn followed his two-hit, six-strikeout performance in his last outing by tossing a one-hitter with nine strikeouts Saturday. Flynn (4-0), who was one pitch away from a perfect game before allowing a single on an 0-2 count, also hit a three-run homer for the Meteors (9-2).
“Pat has seen the best (teams),” De La Salle coach Brad Esposito said. “He shut down (top-ranked) Sandburg (in a 1-1 suspended game) and he’s just overpowering right now.”
Sandburg 7-7, Bremen 2-0: Jim Davies (2-0) tossed a two-hitter with 15 strikeouts and Derrick Smith and Chuck Peters had two RBIs each for the top-ranked Eagles (4-2) in Game 1. Peters and Ryan Kouba each knocked in two runs in the second game.
Oak Park 13-8, Naperville Central 8-6: In Game 1, Jonah Ansell (2-0) scattered seven hits and struck out five for No. 2 Oak Park. In the nightcap, the Huskies (4-2) scored all their runs in the final two innings. Mike Coglianese went 2 for 5, including a two-run homer in the seventh that capped off the comeback.
Andrew 14, Marian Catholic 0: Brett Pignatello, Matt Eichhorn, Garrett Jones and Ed Legenza each had two hits for the third-ranked Thunderbolts (6-1).
Hersey 11-5, Glenbrook South 6-8: In Game 1, Matt Howe went 4 for 4 with two RBIs and Andy Garms 2 for 4 with three runs scored and a solo homer as Hersey knocked off the No. 8 Titans.
Herscher 7, Cissna Park Crescent Iroquois 3: Todd Walther (2-0) went the distance and struck out 12, and Matt Kapchinske went 4 for 4 for the No. 10 Tigers (6-0).
Brother Rice 6-5, Lyons 3-3: Dan Szmergalski went 5 for 6 with an RBI and Matt Wilmot went 3 for 5 with three RBIs as the Crusaders (4-2) swept.
Buffalo Grove 8, Niles West 5: Jeremy Paul’s homer in the sixth tied the game and then Buffalo Grove (7-0) added three runs in the seventh to pull out the victory. Joe Parenti and Nelson Gord had two RBIs apiece to lead the Bison.
Elgin 16, St. Patrick 9: Chris Koster and Mike Barowski had three hits and three RBIs each and Elgin (3-1) benefited from four St. Patrick errors in the top of the eighth in the extra-inning victory.
Evanston 14-11, Loyola 4-0: Evanston (4-1) trounced its neighborhood rivals twice as Charlie Newberger went 5 for 6 with two home runs and seven RBIs and Justin Anthony 3 for 5 with two homers and four RBIs for the Widkits.
Fenwick 11, Proviso East 0: Bob Rooney (3-0) tossed a two-hitter and went 3 for 4 with a homer and three RBIs for Fenwick (4-0).
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Glenbrook North 11-10, Mather 1-0: Jason Schwartzwald (1-2) gave up three hits in the opener and Pat Misch two in the nightcap, and Tom Dreyer homered in each game for Glenbrook North (4-3).
Hillcrest 18-14, Argo 8-19: Mike Martin went 6 for 9 with a home run as the Hawks (2-4) split with Argo.
Mt. Carmel 5-7, Shepard 4-10: In Game 2, Joe Toner’s two-run pinch single in the fifth inning put Shepard (5-2) ahead for good.
Nazareth 5-13, Morton 4-3: Frank DeSantis went 2 for 2 and drove in the game-winning run for the Roadrunners (5-2) in Game 1. Mike Spidale had five hits for the day.
Niles North 4, Schurz 3: Lee Ziedman drove in the tying run with a triple and scored the winning run on Joel Russell’s single as the Vikings (3-1) rallied with two runs in the seventh. Mike Guenther stuck out nine.
Notre Dame 13-4, Gordon Tech 4-0: Matt Bowler went 3 for 3 with a home run, a triple and three RBIs for Notre Dame (5-5) in Game 1. In Game 2, Mike Jakubowski struck out 14 as the Dons swept.
Providence 16, Andrean (Ind.) 0: Mike Godfrey had four hits, including a double, a triple and four RBIs to lead the Celtics (5-0). Jeff Bachta and Tony Olszta added three hits apiece for Providence.
Proviso West 10-9, Prosser 0-5: Proviso West (7-2) swept as Jeff Morales tossed a three-hitter in Game 1, and Adom Harris went 4 for 6 on the day with two home runs and six RBIs.
Reavis 14-6, Eisenhower 13-4: In Game 1, winning pitcher Bill Casey (2-0) hit a grand slam and also scored on a wild pitch in the seventh inning for the final run. In the nightcap, Jason Beninato, who went 5 for 8, hit a three-run homer in the sixth to lift the Rams (5-2) to the sweep.
Reed-Custer Tournament: Pat Keenan (3-0) went the distance and scattered five hits as Reed-Custer (6-1) edged Bishop McNamara 2-1. The Comets then defeated Driscoll 2-0 behind Bob Keca’s six-hitter. . . . Bishop McNamara downed Driscoll 11-8 as Anthony Balthazor had three hits, and Tim Bradley hit two homers and knocked in four runs for the Fightin’ Irish (8-2).
Ridgewood 13-17, Quigley 2-0: Ridgewood rolled to the sweep as Michael Batch had a triple, home run and three RBIs in Game 1 and Kevin Morris a home run and two RBIs in the nightcap.
St. Ignatius 18-11, Curie 8-1: In Game 1, Sean Bresnahan went 4 for 5 with two RBIs and Don Hager 2 for 3 with five RBIs for St. Ignatius (8-1). The Wolfpack won the nightcap as Mike Krga, who had two hits in each game, knocked in two runs.
St. Rita 6-7, St. Joseph 0-4: In Game 1, Sergio Castellanos (3-0) allowed three hits over five innings, and in the nighcap, Mike Boyd and Dan Strand had two hits each for the Mustangs (8-0).
Thornton Fractional South 12, Homewood-Flossmoor 10: Ryne Kirby doubled, homered and knocked in two runs to lead the Rebels (4-0).
Thornwood 7-7, Marist 5-8: In Game 1, Tom Calabrese, Adam Churchill and Brian Chelgren each had two RBIs for Thornwood (4-3).
Joliet 16, Rich South 3: No. 4 Joliet (3-0) cruised as Jason Waldvogel hit two home runs and knocked in five runs, and Brandon Sing homered and added three RBIs.
Hinsdale Central 16, Peoria Woodruff 0: Bill Thorsness’ and Mike Glosniak’s back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning sparked the No. 6 Red Devils (7-1) to the rout.
Lockport 5-8, Downers Grove North 3-10: Mike Serafini’s two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh lifted No. 7 Lockport (4-2) in Game 1. In the nightcap, Dan Lydigsen and Orlando Diaz hit back-to-back homers in a four-run fifth inning for Downers North (3-3).
Downers Grove South 14-21, Bolingbrook 4-2: In Game 1, winning pitcher Dave MacDonald (2-1) went 3 for 3 with two doubles, a homer and three RBIs, and in Game 2, Ryan Everaert slugged a grand slam for the Mustangs (8-1).
Dwight 16-13, Momence 2-12: Jake Tjelle had three doubles and 10 RBIs on the day, and the Trojans (7-2) won the nightcap in 10 innings on a single by Mike Heath.
Glenbard East 8-10, Willowbrook 3-2: Glenbard East (4-2) swept as Frank Friedman went 5 for 8 with five RBIs in the double-header.
Morris 5, Romeoville 1: Morris (3-1) jumped to a 4-0 lead after one inning, and Nate Holman (1-1) allowed two hits over six innings and struck out five.
Oswego 3, St. Charles 1: Oswego (1-0) prevailed in its opener as Will Luxion scattered four hits with six strikeouts and also knocked in a run.
Yorkville 4-10, Marmion 3-3: Yorkville scored three runs in the first inning and hung on to take the opener, and then Brad Daley hit a home run and triple in the nightcap to spark the Foxes (4-2) to the sweep.
Antioch 11-9, Rockford Jefferson 9-3: In Game 1, Brett McCullum was 3 for 5 with two doubles as Antioch prevailed in eight innings. The Sequoits (7-2) then gained the sweep as Brandon Clutts (2-0) threw a two-hitter in the second game.
Belvidere 14-6, Cary-Grove 8-16: Jeff Moake went 2 for 3 with a home run and picked up the victory in the nightcap as Cary-Grove (2-6) earned the split.
Carmel 14-20, Deerfield 1-7: Pat McMahon went 2 for 2 with a home run and two RBIs for the Corsairs (6-0) in Game 1. Mark Harmon led a five-homer attack with a home run and five RBIs in Game 2 as Carmel completed the sweep.
Jacobs 13-7, Rockford Lutheran 3-6: In Game 1, Jim Kolzow had two hits and four RBIs, and Scott Kenick allowed three hits for his first varsity victory. Jacobs (7-1) then completed the sweep with an unearned run in the eighth inning.
Libertyville 16-16, Lake Zurich 2-3: In Game 1, Ryan Schreen hit a grand slam and Jake Voigt a three-run homer. In Game 2, Clay Booth added a three-run shot as Libertyville (7-0) hit six home runs on the day.
Mundelein 4-14, Wauconda 3-2: Josh Lieberman was 5 for 7 with four RBIs for Mundelein (7-1).
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Prospect 13-4, York 2-1: Kevin Koeneman went 5 for 7 with a home run, two triples and five RBIs as the Knights swept.
Richards 14-15, Tinley Park 6-14: Richards (4-1) swept as Jeremy Hyzny had a three-run homer in Game 1, and in the nighcap, Mike Jurkovic hit a grand slam and then added a game-winning three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh.
Stevenson 10-2, St. Viator 1-5: St. Viator (3-6) gained the split in the nightcap as Jason Kuffel (1-0) pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief.
Waubonsie Valley 11, West Chicago 10: Waubonsie Valley scored six runs in the sixth to tie. Then John Bertulis, who had three RBIs, hit a run-scoring single in the seventh to cap off the rally for the Warriors (3-0).