THE SKINNY
Warren’s Andrew Hill and Libertyville’s Jeff Barton started this epic mound battle, Warren’s Wes Gordon and Libertyville’s Pat Wales continued it in relief, and Noah Greenberg ended it with a bases-loaded fly over a pulled-in outfield that landed for a single in the bottom of the 11th, giving the Wildcats a key North Suburban Conference Lake Division win. The Cats are 21-5 overall, 8-1 in the division and one game clear of Mundelein. Warren is 18-10-1 overall.
THE TURNING POINT
Warren failed to score after getting a runner to second with one out in the top of the 11th. Warren then won it with a leadoff walk to Jimmy Govern, a one-out walk to Evan Skoug, a hit-by-pitch by Mitch Townsend, and Greenberg’s hit.
THE STAR
The starting pitchers did all the heavy lifting. Warren’s Hill went 9 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and fanning four. He walked four, but two were intentional. Barton lasted 9 innings, fanned 10, walked one and allowed seven hits in his nine innings.
BY THE NUMBERS
For Libertyville, Skoug was 0-for-2, but hit the ball hard twice with line outs to center and left field. He was walked three times. Greenberg was 2-for-4, with a walk. He and Warren shortstop Dominic Cuevas were the only players with multiple hits in the game. Cuevas was 2-for-4 with a walk.
QUOTABLE
“At the beginning of the game, it was pretty dull in the dugout because we weren’t producing on offense. That’s frustrating for all of us. As the game went along, the energy started picking up.” — Greenberg
QUOTABLE
“I’ve thrown eight innings several times. This was the first time I’ve gone nine. I was a little bit surprised coach sent me back out in the ninth.” —Barton
QUOTABLE
“I don’t think I’ve ever been in an 11-inning game at Libertyville. “I was really proud of our kids. They were very resilient all night.” — Wildcat coach Jim Schurr, who’s been coaching at some level at the school for 15 years.
