Baseball: Minier’s pitching, Graba’s hitting keep Fremd undefeated
Myles Minier stymied Hersey for six innings while Will Graba and Fremd stayed perfect Friday in Palatine.
With Graba, who was 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles, along with a solid performance on the mound from Minier, Fremd remained unbeaten with a 6-3 victory over Hersey.
With the win Fremd (14-0-1, 6-0) won the battle of division leaders with Hersey (14-3-1, 4-2). The Vikings have been able to use consistently strong pitching performances to go along with timely hitting and a strong defense.
“In recent games we haven’t really ripped the cover off the ball, ” Fremd coach Chris Piggott said. “But we have had timely hitting. It is different kids that are stepping up and that is nice to see because you don’t have to have one kid to count on.”
Minier, who is sophomore lefthander, stymied Hersey for 6-plus innings. He allowed just three hits until there were two out in the seventh while taking advantage of some solid defensive plays by Graba, Chase Nelson and Tyler Schader.
“I feel pretty good,” said Minier, who had his right thumb taped up after a liner by Chuck Meister ricocheted of his gloved hand before Minier recovered and threw Meister out.
“I did get a little tired in the seventh. But I was just trying to pitch to contact all game and let my defense take care of things. And they did.”
Fremd had given Minier plenty of cushion going into the seventh.
The Vikings struck oil in the second inning when they batted around and plated four runs. Graba got things rolling when he doubled down the right-field line.
“Since last week, I have been on a roll,” said Graba, who tossed a perfect game last week against Hoffman Estates.
“I had three hits on Monday and pitched well. I am just mentally focused throughout the day. In pregame, in the cage, I just feel myself focused even more.”
After a walk to Will Klimas, the baserunners moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Kyle Halvadia. After Schader was hit by a pitch, Vinny Panzino lined a single to drive in a pair of runs and get the bench up onto the fence.
“I knew (Riley) Blackwell is a good pitcher and I was hunting fastball right away,” Panzino said. “I just put my mindset into that and I ripped it.”
After a wild pitch, Nelson, who had two hits in the game, doubled home two runs and the Vikings led 4-0.
Fremd added a run in both in the fourth and seventh inning to increase its lead to 6-0. Graba singled home Cooper Nelson, who had singled earlier In the fourth. Graba, who singled with one out in the seventh, would later score on Cooper Nelson’s single.
“I think the biggest thing is that these guys are really good buddies,” Piggott said. “So they pick each other up and that is fun to watch.”
Hersey showed a never say die attitude with two outs in the bottom on the seventh.
Bennet McNeill singled and Marcus Krecu walked. Wyatt Groberski then followed with a double, scoring McNeill. Brady Klehr followed with a single to drive in two for the Huskies.
But Fremd’s Robby Seifert came in and got a popout to Graba in foul territory to end the game and pick up the save.
“I thought we hit the ball hard and our approach at the plate was good,” Hersey coach Wally Brownley said. “Their kid threw strikes all day. We hit some at ‘em balls. They did a great job defensively. They made every single play. Fate just wasn’t on our side today.”