Sports
Coutre, Ogilvie Go Deep in Libertyville Romp
Easy victory allows Libertyville High School's baseball team to use eight pinch-hitters in one inning.
Listed at 5-foot-8, 150 pounds, Libertyville junior Nick Coutre might not impress folks as a power threat. On Tuesday, he clocked a homer at home against Lake Zurich. On Wednesday, he drilled another ball over the fence at Lake Zurich.
A four-run first inning set the stage for a 13-3 five-inning rout of the Bears. After just two batters the Wildcats (6-5, 2-2) were two runs up. It was a walk to Joey Ruppert. A two-base throwing error moved Ruppert to third base. And the Coutre blast over the right center field fence made it 2-0.
"I'm just seeing the ball really well,'' Coutre said. "With Joey getting on base, guys are throwing me fastballs.''
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A week ago, this Wildcats team was nearly no-hit in a loss to Stevenson. Now after two straight wins over Lake Zurich, the Wildcats are feeling better about themselves.
"We are just taking a better approach,'' Coutre said. "We are a lot more focused in practice. These two wins are huge. We just need to keep it up."
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A five-run third inning put this game away. A.J. Schurr and Jake Duguid had RBI singles and Davis Ogilvie's two-run homer highlighted the frame.
"Five in the third was nice,'' said Libertyville coach Jim Schurr. "And that was great for Davis."
All of this scoring made winning pitcher Dar Townsend's life easier. The junior right-hander took a three-hitter to the fifth inning. He surrendered three more hits in the fifth but chalked up the victory.
"He threw both of his pitches for strikes,'' Schurr said.
With the game in hand, Schurr reached for his bench in the top half of the fifth. Eight pinch-hitters in a row came to the plate. In order it was Kevin McQuillen (double), Sam Styler (infield single), Ryan McGuire, Mike Coutre (walk), Mike Mudd (walk), Robbie Dittman, Vic Scarpone (walk) and Max Ebert.
"That's the most pinch-hitters I've ever used in one inning,'' Schurr said.
Coutre helped the offense with that homer, a single and a walk. Ruppert reached base three times with a pair of walks and a hit. Anthony Mack had a pair of singles. Townsend helped his own cause with a run-scoring double and a gorgeous sacrifice bunt. Duguid had a pair of run-scoring singles. Ogilive added a walk to his two-run homer. Trevor Freberg drove in a run.
