Lewis Athletics
Luke Rinne, Director of Athletic Communications
ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Lewis’ baseball team posted back-to-back shutouts in its doubleheader sweep of McKendree on Sunday afternoon at Brennan Field. The Flyers improve to 11-14 overall and 6-8 in the GLVC while the Bearcats fall to 9-16, 6-8 GLVC.
Pete Hamot (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South)and Blake Marks (Gardner, Ill./Gardner-South Wilmington)fired back-to-back complete game efforts in the wins. Hamot tossed a four-hitter while Marks threw a two-hitter.
“What can you about Pete and Blake,” Lewis head baseball coach Tim McDonough said. “They really stepped up today and this team needed those two lead the way which they did.
“Ryan Schefske (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East)had a great day both offensively and defensively and he is so important to our team clicking,” McDonough added.
Game 1 – Lewis 8, McKendree 0
Lewis scored single runs in the first, second, fourth and sixth innings before busting it open with three runs in the seventh. The Flyers added an insurance tally in the eighth. Lewis had only six hits in the contest but took advantage of eight walks from McKendree pitching. Schefske, Anthony Cavalieri (Western Springs, Ill./Fenwick), Anthony Rios (Lemont, Ill./St. Laurence), Matt McCauley (Oakville, Mo./St. John Vianney)and Michael O’Brien (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Catholic)had a hit each in the contest. Schefske and O’Brien drove in two runs each.
Hamot struck out eight and didn’t issue a walk in his outing to improve to 2-2 on the season.
Game 2 – Lewis 6, McKendree 0
The Flyers scored first in the nightcap with a run in the third inning on Connor Rutherford’s (DePere, Wis./DePere)RBI single. Schefske made it 2-0 in the sixth hitting his second home run of the day to right center.
Lewis busted it open scoring four times in the seventh highlighted by Schefske’s two-run triple to left center scoring Post and Cavalieri.
Marks didn’t allow a hit until the sixth inning while striking out a career-high 12 batters against three walks to improve to 3-3 on the season.
“Today was huge for us but we still have work to do tomorrow,” McDonough said. “Hopefully today can act as a springboard for the rest of the season. We played better in all phases of the game than we have recently and showed ourselves what this team is capable of.”
The Flyers and Bearcats conclude their three-game series on Monday at 12 p.m. at Brennan Field.