Defense Doesn't Rest In Fourth Straight Wildkit Win

Evanston’s offense has been solid up and down the batting order over the first 6 weeks of the high school baseball season.

And ETHS head coach Frank Consiglio has the quality and quantity in his pitching staff to stop most opposing attacks.

But if there’s a chink in the armor for the state-ranked Wildkits this spring, it might be on defense. That’s the one concern the Kits have as they zero in on what could be the best season in school history.

Yet after committing 3 errors early in Friday’s non-conference test against visiting Saint Patrick, the defense didn’t rest, bailing out a 9-7 victory as Evanston recorded its 4th consecutive win.

Diving catches by relief pitcher Eron Vega and second baseman Charlie Kalil in the top of the 7th inning held off the Shamrocks after the hosts rallied from behind for the third time in the past four games. Evanston improved to 22-3 on the season overall.

“We’ve hit the ball all year, and our pitching has been solid,” said Consiglio, “but we have lost confidence a little from a defensive standpoint. I am so happy with the way we won this game today, because we got back to playing Evanston baseball. I’m happy we got back to who we are.

“Yesterday (7-5 win over Niles West) we didn’t make any --- and I mean ANY --- plays in the infield and we gave up 5 runs in one inning. We came back, but we didn’t feel good about it. Our defense saved us today. Charlie (Kalil) made a couple of great plays at second base, and Eron (Vega) got a huge jump on that bunt. I don’t know if any other pitcher I’ve ever had could have made that play.

“These guys are putting a lot of extra work in and our defense is getting better. It’s tough to do when you have games every day, because we need practice so we can keep it going. I just love it when we play good defense!”

A bases-loaded double by junior Braden Grimm reclaimed the lead for ETHS in the bottom of the 6th, so Consiglio summoned Vega for a rare relief appearance to secure the victory. He did, but in an unorthodox fashion.

Vega walked the first two hitters he faced, Elias Alvarado and Justin Garcia, to put the tying runs aboard. Designated hitter Andres Glaviano --- a lefty swinger who had struck out 3 times already --- squared to bunt and popped the ball near the first base line.

Vega’s athleticism paid off when he dashed in and grabbed the bunt on the fly, then flipped to first baseman Jared Lortie for a double play with Garcia already on his way to the next bag.

Three pitches later, second sacker Kalil --- who came off the bench midway through the game in an effort to add more offense --- speared a low liner hit to his right by St. Pat’s Anthony Holloway to end the game.

“As soon as I saw the ball in the air, I knew I had to come in and make a play,” said Vega. “I just dove, got it and got the double play. That was awesome!

“Instinct just takes over at that point. You go after every ball and whatever you can do, you do. I think about defense a lot as a pitcher, because you’re a lot more comfortable when you’re throwing and letting them (teammates) field the ball and make plays behind you. I think that’s an area we can work on --- and fix together --- as a team.”

Evanston right-hander Noah Cryns endured a wild spell after relieving starter Henry Rouch in the 5th. Vega’s throwing error from third base to open the 6th led to three consecutive walks (all with two outs) and a couple of wild pitches by the hard-throwing junior, who surrendered the lead when center fielder Hank Liss stumbled in pursuit of a line drive hit by Anthony Camarena for what turned out to be a bases-clearing double.

But St. Patrick reliever Alvarado couldn’t close the deal. Backup catcher Jason McDermott walked on a 3-2 pitch to open the ETHS 6th, and Kalil lined a single off the second baseman’s glove.

One out later, Brandon Brokowski lashed an RBI single past second to plate pinch-runner Addison Blough and pulled the Kits to within 7-6. A 4-pitch walk to Liss filled the bases for Grimm, who slashed a two-bagger to left center for the game-winning blow.