Touching All the Bases: The top of Lemont’s order ended up getting the best of the Oak Forest pitching staff as the Indian 1-2-3 hitters combined to go 6-for-12 with five RBIs in a 7-6 baseball victory over the Bengals on Wednesday. Most of the damage was done in the second inning when the Indians got to Oak Forest freshman starting pitcher Brian Richard. Lemont junior right fielder Kyle Milinowisch highlighted the inning for the Indians with a two-run single.

Lemont led 5-0 after two innings, but Oak Forest came storming back. After back-and-forth play from the third inning through the sixth inning, Oak Forest trailed 7-3 entering the seventh. Richard started the inning with a single. Then, junior catcher John Zubek was hit by a pitch and center fielder Cody Murray drew a walk to load the bases for slugger Tim Barry. Barry was hit by a pitch as the Bengals closed within 7-4. Senior shortstop Bobby Sheppard delivered an RBI single, and sophomore Tom Livingston added a sacrifice fly, and Oak Forest only trailed 7-6. However, the Bengals' next two batters were unable to drive in any more runs, and the rally ended.

Patch’s MVP: Lemont right fielder Kyle Milinowisch and shortstop Kevin Goergen each finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs. As a result, they share the award. The two were the 2 and 3 hitters in the top of Lemont’s lineup that Oak Forest had trouble getting out.

Oak Forest Leaders: Senior shortstop Bobby Sheppard (1-for-2, RBI). Junior right fielder Arthur Johnson (1-for-4, RBI). Junior relief pitcher Nick Swanson (pitched a scoreless fifth inning).

Lemont Leaders: In addition to Milinowisch and Goergen, junior starting pitcher Jeff Worsech (5 innings pitched, 4 strikeouts, 1 earned run). Senior left fielder Trevor Murphy (2-for-4, RBI).

Quotable I: Oak Forest senior shortstop Bobby Sheppard on his team’s comeback: “We’re young. Obviously, I’m only one of two seniors and we need to be leaders out there. I stress a lot about hustle. We started too late, but we’re going to get there. We’re going to start this earlier.”

Quotable II: Lemont coach Joe Rodeghero on his team’s five-run second inning: “I thought we hit the ball very well. We’ve started going the other way and that’s what we preach here.”

Team Records: Oak Forest is now 3-2-1 and 1-1 in the South Suburban Conference. Lemont is 5-4 and 1-1 in the South Suburban Conference (Oak Forest and Lemont have split their two matchups).

What’s Next: Oak Forest is at Oak Lawn on Thursday, while Lemont hosts Evergreen Park.