Will Blake, Loyola Academy’s junior backup catcher, admits he has struggled all season with his hitting. He usually catches only when regular catcher Bryan Tews pitches.
Monday, Blake took full advantage of one of his rare opportunities. He hit three singles and a double in four times at bat and had four RBIs as the Ramblers totaled 17 hits in six innings and knocked off No. 7 De La Salle 12-5.
Loyola improved to 23-7 overall and 14-3 in the Catholic League. De La Salle dropped to 23-5, 14-4.
Despite its slugging, Loyola led only 6-5 going into the home half of the fifth. That’s because De La Salle bunched five of its seven hits with Loyola’s only error in the top of the fifth when the Meteors scored all five of their runs, four unearned.
“I wasn’t really worried though,” said Blake, “because Bryan Tews is one of the most confident players I know. De La Salle is a great team, but I was sure he’d hold them.”
Blake’s bat helped inflate Tews’ cushion. Blake’s RBI single made the score 7-5 in the three-run fifth. He singled home two more runs in the three-run sixth. Tews improved his pitching record to 6-0.
Loyola’s 5-foot-9-inch, 155-pound leadoff man Ryne San Hamel homered in the first inning, singled, stole a base and had three RBIs. Tews contributed two hits, two RBIs and a sacrifice fly. Ramblers Jake Toohey, Forrest Engelman and Dan Walsh each had two hits.
The Ramblers and Meteors play Tuesday at De La Salle.
Bill Jauss.
Lyons Township 2, Downers Grove North 1: Tim Brewer and Kevin Brandush each drove in a run to lift the No. 1 Lions (26-3, 13-3) in the West Suburban Silver.
Buffalo Grove 2, Prospect 1: Danny Maro had the game-winning RBI for the No. 2 Bison (26-2, 15-0) in the Mid-Suburban East.
Schaumburg 6, Conant 0: John Hummel went 2-for-2 with an RBI and also earned his ninth win for the No. 4 Saxons (23-4, 13-2) in the Mid-Suburban West.
New Trier 8, Maine East 0: Chris Harang went 2-for-3 with one RBI for No. 5 New Trier (24-4).
Brother Rice 11, Providence 5: Tim Braun went 3-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs for the Crusaders (22-8, 11-7) in the Catholic League.
St. Rita 10, Leo 0: In the Catholic League, Kurt Oswald pitched a no-hitter as the Mustangs (23-8, 15-4) rolled in five innings. Oswald, who struck out 10, lost a perfect game when he hit a batter in the fourth inning.
Class A regionals
Yorkville: Andrew Bail struck out 11 in a five-inning perfect game as Chicago Latin (12-11) knocked off Holy Trinity 12-0.
Softball
Sandburg 2, Lincoln-Way Central 0: Brittany McIntyre struck out 10 and also scored a run as the No. 1 Eagles (23-2, 10-0) edged No. 4 Lincoln-Way Central (22-3, 7-3) in the SICA West.
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Oak Park 17, Proviso West 2: Kailee Roeser hit a grand slam for the No. 2 Huskies (25-1, 11-0) in the West Suburban Silver.
Glenbard North 3, Wheaton North 1: Lindsey Veselsky had 25 strikeouts and Carla Musillo doubled in Sarah Bryers in the top of the 17th for the No. 3 Panthers (28-2, 12-1) in the DuPage Valley.
Richards 10, Bolingbrook 0: Lindsey LaChiana tossed a two-hitter with nine strikeouts for the No. 6 Bulldogs (18-5, 7-1) in the SICA North.
Thornwood 13, Shepard 0: In the SICA East, Uju Ibekwe pitched a no-hitter with 13 strikeouts as the No. 7 Thunderbirds (20-5, 7-1) cruised in five innings.
Marian Catholic 4, Nazareth 1: The No. 9 Spartans (24-5, 14-1) clinched the East Suburban Catholic behind Angelica Espinoza’s three-hitter.
Addison Trail 9, Willowbrook 1: Kristen Brestan hurled a no-hitter with 17 strikeouts for the Blazers (20-9, 6-5) in the West Suburban Gold.
Elk Grove 7, Buffalo Grove 2: Megan Huitink struck out 13 to improve to 20-3 for the Grenadiers (25-6, 14-2) in the Mid-Suburban East.
Fremd 7, Hoffman Estates 0: The Vikings (20-8, 14-2) clinched the Mid-Suburban West title as Ellen Stoddard went 4-for-4.
Lake Zurich 1, Woodstock 0: Jan Schlereth’s single in the 10th gave the Bears (23-6, 12-3) the Fox Valley win.
Mother McAuley 10, Queen of Peace 0: Debbie Peterson went 2-for-2 with four RBIs as the Mighty Macs (25-3) won the GCAC Red title in five innings.
York 3, Glenbard West 2: Gina Hugelier singled and scored the winning run in the sixth for the host Dukes (24-5, 9-3) in the West Suburban Silver.
Girls soccer
New Trier 7, Highland Park 0: Caroline Jenner assisted on three goals for the No. 6 Trevians (17-3-3).
Francis Parker 6, North Shore Country Day 0: Caroline Wolf scored twice for the Colonels (15-1, 14-0) in the Independent School League.
Boys volleyball
Brother Rice d. Oak Lawn 15-12, 15-11: Mike Jones and Chris Kozlarek had eight kills apiece and Jordan Vidovic collected 27 assists for the top-ranked Crusaders (28-1).
Sandburg d. Andrew 15-7, 15-13: Drew Cunningham’s 11 kills paced the No. 8 Eagles (28-6, 11-0) in the SICA West.
Lyons d. Mt. Carmel 15-5, 15-3: Phil Ardelean and Dan Meske recorded six kills and four kills, respectively, for the Lions (26-7).