Baseball season starts 3-2
HUNTLEY — The weatherman may have batted .500 for Huntley’s back-to-back spring break home games, but the Red Raiders fared better with a 2-0 record and upping their early season mark to 3-2.
The Red Raiders beat Maine South, 7-1, March 26, then shut out Boylan Catholic, 8-0 March 27.
A trio of Huntley pitchers – Mason Leske, Sean Dabe and TJ Jakubowski held Boylan Catholic one hit on the day overcoming the elements was also needed. Leske, a senior, allowed a first inning single, then struck out six hitters in four innings of work. Dabe, a sophomore, worked the next two innings with Jakubowski, a senior, finishing it off in the seventh.
“I think we were able to turn the corner after last week,” Huntley head coach Andy Jakubowski said. “Leske filled the zone up with strikes. We’re working to build our starters up, as he threw 60 pitches. Dabe is one of our top guys out of the bullpen and will occassionally start and we gave TJ Jakubowski an inning.”
Against the Titans, key play early came as Drew Borkowski reached on an error and scored a second inning a run on an RBI walk by Ashton Jones. Huntley opened the gap to 4-0 in the fourth as Alex Behles doubled, and AJ Putty had an RBI single around two hit-batters. Huntley finished it off with a four-run sixth inning.
The win over the Titans is always a special one for Andy Jakubowski, as the Rockford school is where he was once the head baseball coach.
Huntley received solid efforts from several areas – even the fickle March weather cooperated, as the Red Raiders gained their second win with an 7-1 verdict over Maine South March 26.
Junior starting pitcher Brady Klepfer retired the first 10 hitters he faced to gain the win, as a fourth inning walk and single ended that run. He was backed up by relief pitching from Putty.
“Klepfer had a good bounce back outing after the Brother Rice game, and we tweaked some things with his motion,” coach Andy Jakubowski said. “He had three pitches working well. He has been working on his change-up. We’re starting to stretch him out in total pitches.”
The offense broke the game open with a four-run third inning. Putty had the key knock, a two-RBI double and Jakubowski had a key bunt single. A wild pitch and sacrifice fly brought the other runs home.
“That was the best game of situational hitting that we’ve had,” Andy Jakubowski said.=
The visiting Hawks spoiled the shutout bid with a run in the fifth, but Putty came in relief the rest of the way. Huntley put the game away with a four-run sixth inning, with four singles and a walk.
The win followed a close 5-3 loss at Fremd March 25.
First 3 games
The Red Raiders were 1-2 after three games, with the victory a 12-10 decision over Brother Rice March 22. Earlier losses were close games to St. Charles East, 3-2 and Yorkville, 8-6.
College selections
Led by two seniors heading to Division I colleges, the Red Raiders Class of 2025 has eight players committed to play collegiately. The top players are University of Illinois commit pitcher, infielder AJ Putty, and shortstop, second baseman and pitcher TJ Jakubowski selected Bradley University.
Other selections: outfielder Ryan Dabe, to Parkland Community College; infielder Dylan Visvarde, McHenry County College; pitcher Mason Leske, Missouri Southern State University; first baseman Alex Behles, Northwood University; outfielder Cayden Haugh, Judson University and pitcher and outfielder Eric Suarez, Cathrage College.
The Red Raiders were 29-8-1 last season and have won the Fox Valley Conference championship for six straight seasons and eight straight regional titles. They advanced to the sectional final. Jakobowski is in his 19th year at HHS, 25th overall, with a 543-211-2 career record.
