The Oak Park River Forest High School baseball team took charge against Downers Grove North in a big 7-1 victory.
The game took place April 30 at the OPRF Baseball Field in a thrilling West Suburban Conference matchup. The Huskies improved their record to 5-4 in the West Suburban Conference and now sit at fourth place in the rankings. The Huskies have an overall record of 15-7.
The Huskies controlled the game from the jump, capping off a three-run first inning. Seniors Zach Goldberg and Johnny Nelson, along with sophomore Ian Moore, had huge impacts on the game, notching three straight singles to open up the game. The Huskies never looked back as junior Robert Kolovitz added a triple, followed up by a laser double from senior Liam Moroney.
The pitching had a huge impact on the game, with junior Grayson Waters tallying three strikeouts and only allowing one earned run in five innings. Senior Owyn Edwards came in relief, striking out three and allowing zero earned runs, ultimately sealing the game.
After the game, Coach Kevin Campbell reflected on the team’s performance, saying that he values “setting the tone and dictating the pace of the game.” He aims to make “the opposing pitcher uncomfortable” and praised the “guys for doing that.”
Campbell believes the team “hasn’t hit their peak yet, but we are getting there,” he said. Campbell is certain the team will keep improving and is confident heading into the later stages of the season.
Moore agreed. “The team’s peak is yet to come,” he said. “We need to keep building momentum for the playoffs.” Moore expressed confidence that the team will succeed and is preparing for the later stages of the year.
After the Huskies picked up three more wins, including a 16-2 win against rival Fenwick Friars on May 1, a 14-2 win over Hinsdale South on May 2 and a huge 10-8 conference win against Hinsdale Central on May 5, the Huskies record sits at 17-7. The Huskies look to carry this momentum in their next series against the Hinsdale Central Devils in a huge conference seeding matchup on May 6.
