SANDWICH — The Rochelle Hub varsity baseball team faced Sandwich on the road for the first of its two-game Interstate 8 series with the Indians on Monday. Behind a six-inning, 10-strikeout performance from junior Braden Alfano, Rochelle defeated Sandwich 6-4 and improved to 6-4 on the season. Senior Mark Hopkins went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.

After three scoreless frames to open the game, Rochelle took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning, where senior Kyler Lara singled and scored on an RBI double from senior Reese Kirk. The Hubs added another run in the top of the sixth inning after Lara singled and scored on an RBI double from Hopkins. Sandwich tied the game at 2-2 with a two-run bottom half.

Needing a rally in the seventh inning, Rochelle tallied four runs including one from Alfano, who scored on a passed ball to put the Hubs ahead 3-2. With the bases loaded, Hopkins and junior Nate Burdin each drew walks, bringing two more runs home before senior Sam Hacaga scored on another passed ball from the Indians. Leading 6-2, Rochelle conceded two Sandwich runs on a sacrifice fly and an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh before a flyout ended the game.

Game 2

Despite senior Spencer Warborg's go-ahead RBI double in the bottom of the sixth inning, Sandwich rallied for two runs on back-to-back singles in the top of the seventh inning to defeat the Hubs 5-4 and split the two-game Interstate 8 series. Rochelle fell to 6-5 with the loss.

Warborg enjoyed a strong outing at the plate, finishing 3-for-3 with three RBIs. Senior Oscar Linares put the Hubs ahead 1-0 with a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning before a two-run single from Warborg plated Andy Buskohl and senior Reese Kirk to make it a 3-0 game. The Indians earned two runs back on a two-run homer in the top of the third inning.

Sandwich then tied the game at 3-3 with a walk and a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth inning. Senior Kyler Lara reached on a fielder's choice for the Hubs in the bottom of the sixth inning, preceding Warborg's RBI double that gave Rochelle the late lead. Two Hubs reached on hit-by-pitches in the bottom of the seventh, but three flyouts ultimately sealed the Sandwich win.

Fresh/Soph

The Rochelle fresh-soph baseball team topped Sandwich 9-4 on Monday to improve to 4-2 on the season. Alex Burnette earned the win on the mound, striking out eight batters in five innings pitched. Bradley Cooney tossed two innings of scoreless relief, striking out two Sandwich hitters.

Christian Burnette doubled and recorded two RBIs in the win, while Braden Behrens singled and totaled two RBIs for the Hubs. Five players notched one RBI including Garrett Gensler, Cooney, Alex Burnette, Brandon Moody and Colton O'Rorke.

Rochelle rematched Sandwich on Wednesday, crushing the Indians 26-1 and moving to 5-2 on the season. Colton O'Rorke dominated at the dish, going 5-for-5 with two doubles and six RBIs. Bradley Cooney went 3-for-4 with four runs and four RBIs, while Noah Lara finished a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with four runs and four RBIs. O'Rorke had no issues on the mound, throwing all four innings and striking out eight batters while allowing just three hits.