Hoffman Estates' Small Ball Costs Barrington Conference Game

With Barrington and Hoffman Estates tied at five to start the top of the seventh, the Hawks managed a late winning run, without hitting the ball out of the infield.

The seventh inning began innocently enough for the Broncos (2-16, 1-4) as the Hawks squeaked out an infield single.  Barrington’s shortstop, Jack Scheffler, corralled the ball near the outfield grass but his throw was late giving Jimmy ward his third hit of the game.

Hoffman Estates (6-10, 1-3) would catch a lucky break when Barrington was unable to get the out at first on the sacrifice attempt. 

“We knew they were going to bunt,” Barrington’s coach Jim Hawrysko said.  “We went to make the routine play; the ball just didn’t get caught.”

The play proved costly. After a force at third base, leaving Hawk players at first and second, Barrington committed their fourth error in the game that moved the potential winning run at third.  Ward would eventually score when he left on the contact of teammate Kevin Grudzinski’s fielder’s choice to second baseman Chris Coco.

“The error hurt us and gave them the run,” Hawrysko said.  “We were left chasing again.”

Barrington climbed back from an early deficit after they gave up two runs in the first and saw themselves down three by the third.  Broncos got two runs back on a very long single by Aaron Foley which hit the top of the right field fence with the bases loaded.  Barrington was unable to push anymore across, an unfortunate theme for the Broncos as they left nine men on base (Hoffman Estates 9 l.o.b.) on 12 hits.

“Three or four more of those guys need to score,” Hawrysko said following the game.  “We have to get that big hit with two outs and get a good swing on the ball more often.”

And Scheffler did just that for the Broncos.  First, he would tie the game at four with his clutch two out single in the fourth and would tie the game again at five when he lined a double that scored Coco in the sixth.  Scheffler might have had another run batted in, but a good relay from Hoffman Estates gunned down Macray Poidomani at home preventing the Broncos from taking the lead.

“Scheffler did a great job today,” said Hawrysko of the three R.B.I. with two outs.

Unfortunately for Barrington the were unable to muster one final comeback as they couldn’t spark a rally off a two out walk during the bottom of the seventh at Kirby Smith Field.