Hinsdale Central right-handers Dan Teska and Ben Chapman earned different decisions during a doubleheader split at Lyons Saturday, but both showed why they are considered the top of the rotation for the Red Devils this spring.
Teska and Chapman gave supporting evidence that pitchers are ahead of batters early in the season, as the Red Devils opened the West Suburban Silver against perennial power Lyons.
Hinsdale Central won the first game 5-2, then lost 2-1 after stranding the tying run at third base with two outs in the top of the seventh inning.
Teska and Chapman are among the top pitchers for coach Jason Ziemer after the Devils (2-4, 1-1) lost three starters to graduation — Charlie Banke, Austin Butler and Nick Senicka.
Teska and Chapman are new to the varsity rotation. Last year, Teska was used as a closer and Chapman pitched primarily on the JV squad. Chapman was considered the starting shortstop in the preseason, but Ziemer decided to insert junior Jake Ryder as the successor to Ryan Haff, who is at Illinois.
“I knew coming into the season that I expected Ben to be a shortstop for us,” Ziemer said. “I knew he had a good arm. He puts a few things together, he could be a diamond for us.”
Chapman was the tough-luck, complete-game loser in the second game for Hinsdale Central after allowing his only runs in the third inning off Charlie Harrigan’s two-run single. In his second outing of the season, Chapman (0-1) scattered six hits, didn’t allow a walk and struck out two batters.
Chapman threw 88 pitches on a windy day, but felt confident enough after throwing 20, 40 and 60 pitches during preseason practices.
“I take it one inning at a time and don’t think about the game,” Chapman said. “I focus on one pitch at a time.”
Lyons senior right-hander Tom Hickey (1-1) gave up four hits and two walks and struck out 11 after throwing 114 pitches for the complete-game victory.
Teska (1-0) was the winning pitcher in the first game and allowed three hits and three walks and struck out four.
“(It feels good), especially in the first conference series of the season,” Teska said. “If you go a full game, it really boosts your confidence.”
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