First battle to Lakes in title war

The first battle went to Lakes High's baseball team.

The second battle will occur today.

And if the Eagles win again, the season-long chase for North Suburban Conference Prairie Division championship should be their's as well.

Lakes took a giant step toward a division title on Monday with a 10-5 win over host Vernon Hills in a league showdown.

The Eagles improved to 18-8 overall and 8-1 in the NSC Prairie, while the Cougars fell to 15-11, 7-2.

The two teams meet again in Lake Villa today at 4:30 p.m., and if Lakes pulls off another victory, the Eagles will earn at least a share of the division title.

After today's game, Lakes has its final two league games with Antioch set for next week.

Lakes erased an early 1-0 deficit by scoring three times in the top of the second inning, with help from a RBI single by Dominick Costa (2 for 3) and a RBI sac fly by Andy Tubek off Vernon Hills starter.

The Eagles put the game away with a six-run fourth frame for a 9-1 lead. Tubek (two-run double), Eric Lopez (two-run single), Ken Kelly (RBI single) and Willie Massie (RBI single) had the run-producing hits in the rally.

"We've had opportunities this season to put team away and haven't always taken advantage," said Lakes coach Bill Rosencrans. "We did a good job of adding runs in this game, especially in the sixth inning.

"It was a very big win for us. We control our own destiny now."

Lakes starting pitcher D.J. Snelten got off to a rocky start in the opening inning, as he gave up a bases-loaded RBI single to Vernon Hills' Zack Kinsley for a 1-0 deficit.

But Snelten then got a fielder's choice out and struck out two Cougars to get out of the frame without any more damage.

Snelton left after five innings of work.

Vernon Hills pushed across a single run in the sixth and three more in the seventh on some shaky fielding by Lakes, but it wasn't enough.