Kaneland uses fifth-inning swing to hold off St. Charles East, 6-5

Kaneland broke open a one-run game in the fifth inning and then held off a late push from St. Charles East for a 6-5 victory Wednesday in Maple Park.

The decisive stretch came in the bottom of the fifth. After the Fighting Saints had taken a 4-3 lead in the top of the fourth, Kaneland moved back in front when a throwing error on a pickoff attempt brought home the tying run. An RBI double followed to give Kaneland a 5-4 lead, and an RBI single later in the inning pushed the margin to 6-4. That sequence proved to be the difference after St. Charles East nearly erased it in the seventh.

The Saints struck first in the top of the second inning. Mason Daros worked a walk, courtesy runner Sean Groselak advanced into scoring position, and Dylan McCabe delivered a single to bring Groselak home for a 1-0 lead. Kaneland answered quickly with three runs in the bottom half, but St. Charles East responded again in the third. Niko Vahmistrovs tied the game at 3-3 with a two-run home run, one of the biggest swings of the afternoon.

St. Charles East went back in front in the fourth. McCabe led off with a walk, stole second and third, then scored on James Feigleson's RBI groundout for a 4-3 edge. The Saints created pressure throughout the game with their speed and patience at the plate, finishing with five stolen bases and seven walks.

Vahmistrovs finished 1-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs, one run scored and a walk. Gavin Fuscone went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, an RBI, one run scored and a walk. Daros added a 2-for-3 day with a walk, while McCabe finished 1-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored and a walk. Feigleson drove in a run, and Nate Moline and Chris Dazzo added one hit apiece.

The Saints made one last push in the top of the seventh when Fuscone opened the inning with a leadoff home run to trim the deficit to 6-5. St. Charles East got the tying run closer, but Kaneland closed out the comeback attempt and handed the Fighting Saints a narrow road loss under mainly clear skies and windy conditions.