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Rush makes quick impression as a starter
April 26, 2007 | By Bill Stone | SPORTS WRITER
Senior pitcher Bill Rush had a difficult first varsity start for the Hinsdale Central baseball team Saturday only until the game began.
The Red Devils faced area-ranked rival Lyons Township in the second game of their West Suburban Conference Silver Division doubleheader in Hinsdale, and Rush's repertoire wasn't at its best.
Rush responded with a complete-game gem, but the result was a frustrating 2-0 loss for the Red Devils, who dropped the first game 8-2.
"This has got to be one of the best outings of my life," said Rush, who allowed eight hits with five strikeouts and two walks. "My curveball stunk today, but my changeup worked real well. I had that to lean on, which was awesome. I throw usually 85, 90 percent curveballs so when that wasn't working early, I was pretty terrified, but it kind of worked out.
"I was nervous (Friday) night, but then I came into the game just thinking it was another team and just do what you do."
The young Red Devils' losing streak increased to nine Monday after falling at Willowbrook 10-4. The Red Devils (4-11, 3-5 in Silver) were limited to four hits with RBI doubles by Brock Piche and Billy Auriemma.
The Red Devils haven't won since April 3, beating Proviso West 23-0 in four innings.
"I've never had an 0-7 week. None of us have," Hinsdale Central coach Tom Dorrance said. "How are we going to respond? That's going to tell the character of our team. This week is going to tell us. If we can come back and play .500 ball, I'll be happy. We're going in the right direction. If we go 0-5, we're accepting the fact that it's going to be a long year."
Rush relieved in four games previously. Now he looks to be part of the starting rotation.
"The way (Rush) was pitching, with the ground balls (he caused), and we played solid defense behind him for the first time all year, that's what it takes," Dorrance said.
"(Our defense) helped a ton. They did a really good job behind me," Rush added.
LT's Brian Lorenz also pitched well in the second game, allowing five hits, two each by Auriemma and Eric Wroble, with four strikeouts and no walks. The Red Devils left the bases loaded in the second inning.
Hinsdale Central ace Kasey Ourada (2-3) pitched a solid first game, allowing nine hits with six strikeouts, two walks and one hit batter, but five errors contributed to six unearned LT runs. Junior first baseman Rich Brennan was 2 for 2, scored in the second on Wroble's two-out single and brought home Brett Suchy with a sacrifice fly in the sixth.
"I thought I was taking some pretty good swings, seeing the ball well, just going up there with a purpose," Brennan said. "It was a very rough week. This is a great bunch of guys. We're just going to try and stick together and see if we can pull through, pick each other up. It's been happening a lot more lately so I have a good feeling about (this) week."
The Red Devils were swept in their Silver series with York after losing 11-1 in five innings Friday in Elmhurst and 10-6 April 17 in Hinsdale. Suchy (run) and Brennan had two hits Friday, Brennan and Carl Madej doubled and Jack DiNardo had an RBI single. The Red Devils scored their six runs April 17 in the seventh on two-run homers by DiNardo and Wroble and Jared White's two-run single.
In other nonconference action, the Red Devils lost 10-5 at Willowbrook April 20 and Leyden 12-8 April 19 in Hinsdale. Suchy hit a two-run double and DiNardo had an RBI double at Willowbrook. Matt Meyer (3 RBIs), Madej (double, 2 RBIs), White (3 runs, RBI) and Kris Leksas (2 runs) each had two hits against Leyden.
At Proviso West, Auriemma hit a three-run homer, Suchy was 3 for 4 with four RBIs, two doubles and four runs and DiNardo (double, 4 RBIs), Brennan (double, 4 runs) and Jason McClain (home run, 2 RBIs) each had two hits and Grant Slesser had a two-run double.
Winning pitcher Marc Weimer (1-0) threw a two-hitter with six strikeouts and no walks.
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