Baseball: Chamberlin, H-F Lower Boom on Stagg

Touching All the Bases: Homewood-Flossmoor's team bus arrived a few minutes late to Stagg, but the Vikings' offense was right on time in a 7-3 baseball victory over the Chargers on Monday afternoon. Stagg pitcher Kyle Belluomini walked two in the first inning, and the Vikings cashed in on a two-run double by second baseman David Stern. It was 2-0 until Stagg answered back in the bottom of the second. Belluomini walked and was knocked in on an RBI single from Francisco Zavala to draw the Chargers within 2-1. In the bottom of the fourth, Max Orant led off with a single and Belluomini, with a chance to help his cause, launched a two-run homer over right-center field fence to put the Chargers up 3-2. H-F countered in the fifth. Ben Kirchler singled and scored on a balk called against Belluomini with runners at second and third. Then, with the game tied 3-3, an RBI single from Nick Brandt put the Vikings ahead 4-3. And, with two outs, Elon Chamberlin took a 1-0 breaking ball and hit a storage shed over the right field fence with a three-run homer, and that was all the Vikings needed to win. Stagg was unable to cash in on two errors after the Belluomini home run in the fourth, and two more H-F errors (one in the fifth and one in the sixth).

Patch's MVP: H-F designated hitter Elon Chamberlin rates the nod for his three-run home run in the fifth. Chamberlin was 1-for-2 overall, including a sacrifice bunt.

Homewood-Flossmoor Leaders: Winning pitcher Dan Lietz (6 innings, 5 strikeouts, 3 earned runs, 3 walks, 5 hits), center fielder Nico Kelly (1-for-2, double, 2 walks, stolen base, run), second baseman David Stern (2-for-3, walk, single, double, 2 RBIs)

Stagg Leaders: Pitcher/first baseman Kyle Belluomini (1-for-3, walk, home run, 2 RBI, 2 runs, reached on error), catcher Max Orant (3-for-4, 2 singles, double, run)

Quotable I: Homewood-Flossmoor Coach Todd Sippel: "(Dan Lietz) picked up our defense on the mound today. We were real shaky on defense, allowing several errors. That's what a good pitcher does, he picks up his teammates."

Quotable II: Stagg Coach Matt O'Neill: "Walks are a killer in baseball, but at the same time, we were up 3-2 with no outs, and we can't extend the lead. We're in a rut right now. If we get a lead, we can't extend it. It's our downfall right now."

Team Records: The Vikings are 9-1. The Chargers fell to 3-6.

What's Next: Both teams open conference play Wednesday. hosts Joliet Central and plays at .