Townsend, Schurr lead Wildcats to first win

Libertyville High School junior Dar Townsend reminds many of his father, former Warren baseball coach Dar Townsend.

"I'm slow like him,'' Townsend joked.

Of course the junior could jest after his Wildcats baseball team opened the 2011 spring season with a tense 2-1 victory over visiting Hoffman Estates on Saturday morning.

Townsend was credited with the game-winning hit in the fourth inning. He also claimed a save in Joey Eichmann's 12th straight win in a Wildcats uniform dating back to his sophomore season.

Townsend struck out five in three innings of work and faced the minimum nine hitters in his stint on the mound.

"Today, I felt good,'' Townsend said. "We had a lot of training for this season and my arm felt good."

Libertyville coach Jim Schurr expects a big season out of the 6-foot-2 right-hander.

"He had great command of all three pitches,'' Schurr said. "He doesn't get rattled and shows great mound presence."

Winning pitcher Eichmann scattered two hits heading to the fourth inning before surrendering a solo homer. His offense bailed him out in the home half of the fourth.

After Nick Coutre reached on an infield hit, shortstop A.J. Schurr ripped his second double of the game chasing Coutre home with the tying run. Townsend's hit scored the final run of the game.

Coutre also contributed a strong play in right field on a sinking liner in the top of the fourth. That play clearly saved a run.

Eichmann was 8-0 as a sophomore. His junior season ended abruptly with a sprained ligament in his arm.

"I'm very happy him,'' coach Schurr said. "He had good command of the zone. We also made every play defensively."

The Wildcats  also used Joey Ruppert in center field, Anthony Mack at second base, Trevor Freberg at first base and Davis Ogilvie at third.

Also on this Libertyville team is: Ethan Andrews, Nate Carlson, Robbie Dittman, Ryan McGuire, Mike Coutre, Kevin McQuillen, Matt Dohse, catcher Jake Duguid, Max Ebert, Vic Scarpone, Sam Styler, Mike Mudd, Mike Boyle and Kyle Cibrario.

"We've got some good cameraderie on this team,'' Townsend said. "We are looking good right now."