Baseball: Sparacio has a day for Plainfield Central
By Dick Goss dgoss@stmedianetwork.com April 14, 2012 7:56PM
Updated: June 14, 2012 1:51AM
Saturday morning became Joe Sparacio Day as Plainfield Central beat visiting Joliet West 5-1.
The Wildcats’ senior first baseman went 4-for-4 with three ringing doubles, the second breaking the school record for career doubles. He scored three runs and had an RBI. For good measure, Sparacio pitched the final two innings, striking out the final five of the six batters he faced with his 2012-vintage sidearm style.
And he remained the ultimate teammate.
“To get Mark (DeYoung) back on the mound was a greater feeling than any record,” Sparacio said.
DeYoung, a right-hander recovering from a broken left wrist suffered in basketball, made his second appearance and first start, allowing one run on two hits in five strong innings.
Sparacio and the Wildcats are eager for the day, perhaps two weeks away, when DeYoung plays the infield and bats again.
“I’ve been playing with Mark since we were 7 and I can’t wait to get him back in the lineup,” Sparacio said. “He is a key to the puzzle.”
Mike Bentson doubled twice, Eric DeLoach once and Matt Ryan and Hunter Linton added two hits in a 14-hit barrage for the Wildcats (9-7-1).
“I was just swinging it; my teammates got me in position to get good at-bats,” Sparacio said. “Stringing hits together like we did today is what we need to do.”
“When your 3-hitter goes 4-for-4 with three doubles, that sets the tone for everyone else,” coach John Rosner said. “If you hit balls hard like we did, good things happen.”
West (9-9), coming off a two-game series against Sandburg that included a big victory and ugly loss, continues to struggle offensively.
“We’re not doing much right,” Tigers coach John Karczewski said. “Two games ago we looked good. But we can’t seem to get out of the spells we’re in at the plate. It’s mental.”
