By Ed Muniz-Photos by Renee Kaspar
**Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p588142718 **
Hinsdale─ The 12U Illinois-Lisle Wolves got back into WSBL play traveling to Hinsdale for their second match-up of the season against the Hinsdale Devils.
The Devils had payback on their minds having compiled an 11-1 record with their lone loss a 4-1 defeat to the Wolves earlier in league play.
The visiting Wolves held a 9-2 record and with the win, would hold any tiebreaker over the Devils for the highly coveted #1 seed in the division for the upcoming WSBL Playoffs.
With several games still left on their schedule, things could change regardless of who ever won this game.
Lately, the Wolves have fallen behind quickly in games. First innings have been disastrous for the Wolves, falling behind 3 to 7 runs after an inning of play.
Poor defense and any free passes eventually end up scoring which leaves the Wolves trailing.
The pattern of late stayed the same in this game.
The Wolves went in order with two popouts in the infield and a strikeout from their first three batters.
In their half, the Devils took advantage of an error and a walk to start the game. Those eventually were part of a 4-run burst that saw the Wolves again trailing early.
Wolves pitcher’ Christian Slazak used his frustration to his advantage leading off the second inning belting a towering homerun that landed over the right field fence.
“I was frustrated how we started but I kept thinking I had to get the next guy out, then at bat, he couldn’t throw a fastball strike to me, then threw two curveballs for strikes, Coach Brandin told me to remember that so next pitch was a curveball and I stuck it”
The home run was the lone score of the inning, but it kick-started the Wolves and lit the fire for Slazak, who polished off the Devils in order in the second inning.
Trailing 4-1, the Wolves now took advantage of the Devils mistakes, starting with a catcher’s interference. Auggie Ruffolo would be joined on the bases two batters later by Johnny Burke after his walk.
A single by Nico Villanueva loaded the bases for Eamon Muldoon who punched a single through the infield which scored Ruffolo.
Michael Petrbok hit into a force out at second but plated the Wolves second run of the inning. Graham Johnson next singled, which scored Villanueva to tie the game at 4-4 with two outs.
A walk to Slazak again loaded the bases. On the next pitch, Quinn Robinson delivered it over the left field fence for the Grand Slam, catapulting the Wolves to a 7-run barrage and an 8-4 advantage.
“I was just looking to get a hit to get on,” said Quinn. “Coach Brandin always says if it’s a fastball or a curveball right down the middle, to swing but I look for that fastball, hit it and it went for a homerun. I just look to get a single or a double. I’ve been in and out of mini slumps, I’m good now.”
The Devils tried to rally and cut into the lead. Two singles started it off, eventually scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of three, cutting the lead to 8-6.
The Wolves got those runs right back in their next at-bat. A Tyler Sokolnicki single and a walk to Ruffolo would both score later on a lined single to right-center by Burke and grounder by Villanueva, jumping the lead back up to 10-6
For Burke, the solid liner was overdue.
“I’ve been struggling lately, dipping my shoulder a lot, so I’ve been working on it at home, said Burke. “I tried staying even with my shoulders and having my bat knob pointed at the catcher to have a faster swing. It felt great to get that solid hit and have an RBI too. It helped today that some of us live in the area, so we have a rivalry with them, it brought our energy up.”
Nico Villanueva silenced the Devils allowing no runs in his two innings. The Devils did threaten but were unable to score and concluded the shorten game with a liner to Slazak at first with two men on, who stepped on first for the game ending double-play and the Wolves 24th win of the season.
Also contributing in the win were Griff Sinkovich, Brian Grogan and Gavin Smith
The Wolves next WSBL game will be June 4 in Lisle against the Wheaton-Briarcliffe Blazers in Lisle at 7:45pm
