Baseball: Oak Forest, Funkhouser Frustrate Reavis

Touching All the Bases: Oak Forest starting pitcher Kyle Funkhouser dominated on the mound Thursday in the Bengals’ 4-0 blanking of Reavis. Funkhouser went seven innings, struck out eight and allowed just four hits.

Funkhouser had a no-hitter through three innings but ran into trouble in the fifth with men on first and second and one out. But Funkhouser induced a double play to end the inning.

The Oak Forest offense got hot in the fifth inning, thanks to some clutch two-out hitting off Reavis starting pitcher Josh Arnold. Leading 1-0 entering the inning, Oak Forest scored three runs on two-out hits. Freshman right fielder Brian Richard started the scoring with an RBI double that plated second baseman George Jester. Senior shortstop Bobby Sheppard followed with an RBI single, and designated hitter Kyle Linares followed with an RBI single of his own.

Funkhouser closed the door on Reavis in the sixth and seventh innings.

Patch’s MVP: Oak Forest junior starting pitcher Kyle Funkhouser (7 innings pitched, 8 strikeouts, 4 hits, 0 runs).

Oak Forest’s Leaders: In addition to Funkhouser, freshman right fielder Brian Richard (2-for-2, 2 RBIs), junior designated hitter Kyle Linares (2-for-2, RBI) and senior shortstop Bobby Sheppard (1-for-3, RBI).

Reavis’ Leaders: Junior shortstop Matt Javorski (2-for-3), junior designated hitter Jake Stano (1-for-2) and senior left fielder Cameron Koepke (1-for-3).

Quotable: Oak Forest starting pitcher Kyle Funkhouser on his team’s momentum: “We’re rolling. We have a good team. It’s cold out, but it’s cold for them too. If we stay in it mentally, I think we’re going to be good.”

Team Records: Oak Forest improved to 8-3-1 overall and 6-1 in the South Suburban Conference. Reavis dropped to 8-7 overall and 5-2 in the SSC.

What’s Next: Oak Forest plays at Bremen on Monday. Reavis plays at home against Eisenhower on Friday.

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