The Hinsdale Central baseball team is off to its best start since 1999, but coach Tom Dorrance believes the Red Devils are only going to get better.

The area-ranked Red Devils improved to 11-0 by sweeping a doubleheader from Willowbrook 4-0 and 5-3 Saturday in Hinsdale. That's the program's best start since the 1999 team went 16-1 on the way to a 30-7 finish in 23-year coach Gary Sulaski's final season.

"The neat thing about this is we haven't even played as well as we're going to play," Dorrance said. "We are playing extremely well. But as a group, the kids know there are a lot of areas for improvement. We have to continue to stay focused."

Senior right-hander Nick Kurash upped his record to 4-0 in Saturday's opener by giving up only one hit with nine strikeouts and five walks. Charlie Thomas threw two one-hit innings of relief with four strikeouts and no walks. Brett Morse and Mark Noth (2 for 3 apiece) each smashed a two-run home run, while Brett Suchy added a double.

Hinsdale Central broke a 3-3 tie in the second game with a two-run sixth inning. Noth singled and Morse walked. Noth then stole third on a pickoff attempt of Morse and became the Red Devils' third runner of the game to score on a passed ball. Alex Bellusci followed with an RBI single.

Winning pitcher Drew Bailey (1-0) struck out on side in the final inning to complete a two-inning relief stint. Starter Kasey Ourada struck out 10, including eight of the final 10 batters he faced, in five innings. One of the three hits he allowed was a three-run homer following two walks. Tobi Adeyemi ripped a solo homer. Noth (double) and Bellusci each went 3 for 3.

On April 6, the Red Devils pounded host Proviso East 15-2 by erupting for 12 runs in the sixth to extend a 3-2 lead. Adeyemi had a big day at the plate with a two-run homer, two-run double and RBI single. Andrew Nicholas added a two-run single and RBI double, while Colin Cimala hammered a solo homer and RBI single among his three hits. Noth had a two-run double, and Sam Katz also doubled. Catcher Noth also threw out two runners trying to steal second.

Hinsdale Central notched an impressive 12-2 win in five innings over Montini April 5 as Noth (2-run double, double, RBI sacrifice fly), Nicholas (2-run double, RBI single), Bellusci (2-run single, RBI single), Brett Suchy (solo homer), Cimala (double) and Adeyemi, (RBI single) led a 10-hit attack. Pat Keiser (1-0) scattered five hits with five strikeouts and two walks for the pitching win.

The Red Devils (3-0 in West Suburban Conference Silver Division) completed a three-game conference sweep of Proviso West with an 11-1 home win in five innings April 4, thanks to a nine-run first. Adeyemi (3 for 3, double, 2 RBIs, 2 runs), Suchy (2 for 2, 3 RBIs, double, run), Nicholas (double, 2 RBIs, 2 runs) and Katz (solo homer) led the outburst. Anthony Fountas (1-0) gave up an unearned run on two hits with six strikeouts and one walk for the pitching win.

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