Tuesday afternoon OPRF’s highly ranked baseball team traveled to Hinsdale to take on conference rival Hinsdale Central. Pitching for Hinsdale Central was Adam Dressler a highly ranked 2013 pitcher in the state of Illinois with a wicked curve and a 90 mph fast ball. On the mound was Sr. Max Guzzetta OPRF’s lefty who is having a very nice season.
OPRF started the scoring in the first inning as Nick Kowalczuk got an RBI by getting Zack Wiegel in for a run. Hinsdale came right back scoring two runs in the 1st. Both pitchers settled in and the score remained unchanged through 4 innings.
Things changed quickly in the 5th inning as OPRF opened up the inning with three straight base hits. After a fly out by Matt McCormack; Jack Picchiotti was walked allowing Collin O’Brien to score. With bases loaded and one out OPRF’s clean-up hitter Nick Kowalczuk came to bat. Kowalczuk proceeded to hit a Grand Slam against Dressler who up to this point kept OPRF’s bat cold. Next Mike Brennan hit a double. He then stole third. Dressler then balked and Brennan scored from third. OPRF scored 6 runs in the inning to bring the score to 7 to 2 after 5 innings.
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The bats stayed hot in the 6th inning with a double by Weigel; then a basehit by McCormack; followed by an RBI double from Picchiotti. Score was now 8 -2. Henry Cappell came into the game in relief for Guzzetta who did a fine job today. In the 6th inning Fencik playing second partnered with Kowalczuk at first for a defensive gem double play. OPRF scored another insurance run when Alex Rice scored on a SAC fly by Danny Shinsako. Cappell finished the game with three strikeouts and allowing one run in the 7th.
Final score was 9-3 and OPRF extended their record to 12-1. Next game is this Thursday at Hinsdale South.
