Lots and lots of season remaining

Weather holds up for Redhawks in opener

Host Naperville Central used a three-run fourth inning to overcome an early deficit and win 4-2 over Waubonsie Valley on Wednesday.

The Redhawks evened their mark at 1-1 while the Warriors (0-1) dropped their season opener.

Central survived four errors - three on throws - and pitched its way out of several jams.

"Yesterday was the first time we put spikes on. We hadn't been on a diamond until (Tuesday)," Redhawks coach Bill Seiple said. "With the weather we've had, we haven't even been able to get outside much."

Needless to say, Seiple wasn't overly alarmed by his team's early defensive miscues.

The starting pitching on both sides was solid on Wednesday.

Warriors starter Russell Schofield (0-1) looked sharp for the first three innings. Schofield didn't allow his first hit until Redhawks second baseman Matt Soria singled with one out in the third.

Redhawks starting pitcher Andy Pucher didn't figure in the decision but fanned four and walked one in three innings of four-hit ball.

Pucher allowed his only two runs in the third, when Johnny Strauss reached on an error to lead off, stole second and later scored on a wild pitch.

"Pucher and I have played together for eight years, so we're very comfortable working together and know each other very well," Redhawks catcher John Holm said. "His main thing was to bear down and get first-pitch strikes."

Trevor Romeo also scored after walking when Waubonsie first baseman Adam LeRoy stroked a double. That was all the offense the Warriors could muster.

"Thirteen runners we left on base," Waubonsie coach Dan Fezzuoglio said. "We talk about these situations (with runners on base) in the gym all the time. The fourth inning was the killer."

That frame had the Redhawks scoring three runs. Three of the five base runners Schofield allowed that inning scored.

Nick Linne tied the game at 2 with an RBI single and Mike Oles drove him in for the lead on a double down the left-field line.

"All of our pitchers have experience but going into the year, the infield and the outfield really hadn't seen any varsity pitching," Holm said. "We weren't really sure what to expect. It was great to see the all-around team effort to come around for a win."

"He's got to stay mentally tough the whole game and I've talked about that with him," Fezzuoglio said of Schofield, also the subject of his compliments.

Fezzuoglio also praised the senior right-hander for his brilliant first three innings.

"He pitched really well. (Russell) just had that one bad inning."

Schofield finished with three strikeouts in four innings. He gave up four runs and four hits with two walks.

LeRoy looked sharp in relief with three strikeouts in a 3-up, 3-down sixth.

Clint Woods (1-0) pitched three effective innings for Central to get the win and starting shortstop Marc Mantucca earned his first save. He struck out two in the seventh.

Soria made a spectacular diving play to rob Waubonsie's Bryan Fekety of a sure hit in that inning. Soria was able to coral the one-hop smash and throw to first in time for the first out of the seventh.

"We've just got to continue to build and grow," Fezzuoglio said.