Maine West manufactures win over Schaumburg
On a day when the wind is blowing straight in, temperatures are in the low 40’s and two pitchers are pounding the strike zone, runs are going to be at a premium.
After knocking on the door in the sixth inning, Maine West finally broke through in the seventh inning with a single run to beat visiting Schaumburg 1-0 in Monday’s nonconference baseball game in Des Plaines.
Freshman Crosley Duckmann singled to lead off the seventh and advanced to second on Pat Donnelly’s sacrifice bunt, just the third time all day a Warrior advanced into scoring position.
Scott Costello then laid down another bunt and when the Saxons were unable to complete the throw to first, Crosley crossed the plate to give his older brother and starting pitcher James Duckmann the victory.
“We play small ball,” James Duckmann said. “We don’t have the big hitters even if the conditions are good, so we have to get runs however we can.”
Duckmann took full advantage of the conditions, tossing all seven innings and throwing 51 of his 83 pitches for strikes. The senior-right hander allowed only 4 hits and 1 walk while striking out 4.
“It’s a pitchers day,” said Maine West coach Joe Pederson. “You have the wind blowing in and it’s cold. We told him to get strike one to keep his pitch count down, and he was pretty efficient.”
Maine West had a golden opportunity in the sixth inning to break the tie, loading the bases with none out after singles from Raul Anaya and Ryan Ross before an error filled the bases.
But Schaumburg starter Matt Brancato, who wound up being the tough-luck loser, snared a line drive off the bat of James Duckmann and doubled off Anaya at third.
Pederson was pleased with the way his kids responded after the momentum shifted to the Saxons.
“James had a great top of the seventh inning,” Pederson said. “The kids came back in and were still hungry.”
Brancato was equally impressive, allowing only two baserunners through five innings and striking out 5 on the way to his own complete game.
“He was outstanding, got ahead of every hitter,” said Schaumburg coach Paul Groot of Brancato throwing 49 of 70 pitches for strikes. “It he throws like that, we’ll be just fine.”
The Saxons’ best chance to score came in the top of the seventh when Kevin Sola led off with a single but Duckmann retired the next three.
“It’s difficult to score on a day like this,” Groot said. “You have to try to manufacture runs and play little ball. We didn’t handle it defensively in the sixth and seventh innings.”