By Xavier Sanchez
Correspondent
Sandburg’s sizzling start to the season was cooled off, at least for a day, by a visit from even hotter SouthWest Suburban Conference foe Lincoln-Way West, which topped the Eagles 5-3 on Monday in Orland Park.
The loss snapped Sandburg’s seven-game winning streak and ran the Warriors’ record to 9-0.
The meeting was the first between the two teams since last season’s Class 4A Sandburg Regional championship game, won by West.
Eagles pitchers allowed runs in three of the first four innings before settling in. Senior starting pitcher Ethan Highfill allowed five runs (three earned) in 3.1 innings while allowing four hits and six walks and striking out seven batters. The Sandburg bullpen pitched 3.2 scoreless with just two hits allowed and striking out three opposing batters.
“We did not do everything we needed to do,” said Sandburg coach Jim Morsovillo. “We outhit them, but did not throw enough strikes or get some timely hits”
The Eagles outhit the Warriors 10-6, but left numerous runners stranded. Sandburg had two golden opportunities to score down the stretch, leaving the bases loaded in one inning and two runners on to end the game.
Junior shortstop AJ Macak led the Eagles with three hits. Highfill and centerfielder Charlie Snoreck each hit doubles and scored a run. Sandburg senior Michael Stapleton had two hits.
“Today did not end in our favor, but we are going to keep working hard,” Macak said. “And we will get there. Our team chemistry is strong.”
Morsovillo wants his hitters to be aggressive at the plate.
“We want to ambush fastballs, especially early in the count,” Macak said. “When you are 0-0, 1-0, 2-0, whatever it may be, it’ll give you more opportunities to get a hit.
Outside of Highfill, the Eagles key pitching staff includes senior Nick Bestrick, who is off to a 3-0 start, and junior Ethan Neakarse.
Neakarse pitched 1.2 scoreless innings with two strikeouts in the loss to the Warriors.
Offensively, the Eagles have Macak, Snoreck, third baseman Dom Palumbo and designated hitter Nick Morsovillo.
Newcomers this season are sophomores Aiden Barrera and Dom Diamond, and junior Andrew Tapia.
“It’s not an easy task for a 14-, 15-year-old kid to go up against some of these seniors in high school,” Jim Morsovillo said. “We are trying to work them in and get them in situations where they can compete, learn and get comfortable.”
The Eagles were scheduled to play April 10 at home against T.F. South, at Lincoln-Way Central in a SouthWest Suburban crossover on Thursday, April 11, and a doubleheader at home versus Joliet West on Saturday, April 13.