The Saint Patrick Shamrocks ran their record to 6-3 by splitting four non-conference games last week. Saint Patrick scored wins over Elmwood Park and Glenbrook South, while falling to Niles North and Glenbrook South.

After rainstorms washed out their games on Monday and Tuesday, the Shamrocks traveled to Elmwood Park to take on the Tigers on Wednesday. Elmwood Park brought a perfect 7-0 record into the game, but they were no match for the Shamrock offense in an 11-4 Shamrock win. Noah Reyes led the attack with three hits, including a 7th-inning grand slam that broke the game wide open, and seven runs batted in. Paul Delles chipped in with two hits and three runs scored. Mike Bolger started the game on the mound, pitching three and two-thirds innings to pick up his second win of the year. Jack McKenna pitched two and one-third solid innings of relief in his first appearance of the season.

The next day Saint Patrick dropped a close game at Niles North by a score of 10-9. Kevin Cahill pounded out two home runs and drove in three runs, and Mike Giller had two hits and three runs batted in to lead the offense, but the Shamrock defense let them down. A defensive breakdown by the Shamrocks in the fifth inning opened the door for a pair of Viking runs that gave Niles North a lead that they wouldn’t surrender.

On Saturday afternoon, the Shamrocks hit the road to take on Glenbrook South. In the first game the Shamrocks put together their most complete game of the season, featuring strong pitching, solid defense and timely hitting. Mike Kotz pitched a complete game, allowing only three hits and one run, while striking out four as the Shamrock defeated the Titans 3-1. Giller sparked the offense with a two-run triple. The Shamrocks weren’t able to maintain their high level of play in the nightcap as a series of defensive lapses led to eight unearned runs in a 14-7 Titan victory. Giller and Reyes continued their hot hitting with three hits apiece. Starter Luke Vail took the loss for the Shamrocks, while McKenna allowed one hit and four unearned runs in one and two thirds innings of relief.

Head Coach Dan Eberle feels that this Shamrock team will go only as far as their defense can get them, “This team is capable of an outstanding season, but for that to happen we need to start playing consistent defense.” The Shamrocks open play in the toughest baseball conference in the state this Saturday when they travel south to take on Marian Catholic in a doubleheader. Three East Suburban Catholic Conference teams (Joliet Catholic-#1, Carmel-#3, and Notre Dame-#6) were ranked in the top six in the Chicago Tribune’s latest rankings of the top ten baseball teams in the state.