Rockets clinch title share

Hampshire's Cameron Waterworth (center) throws up his arms to question an umpire's call during the sixth inning against Richmond-Burton on Monday in Hampshire. R-B won, 6-3. ((Lauren M. Anderson – landerson@nwherald.com))

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HAMPSHIRE – From the reaction of Richmond-Burton’s players, it looked just like any other victory.

Pitcher E.J. Trapino picked up the slow roller toward third base and fired to first baseman Casey Williams for the last out, the Rockets tossed their gloves on the ground and lined up to shake hands.

The win Monday, however, carried more significance than most. R-B’s 6-3 triumph against Hampshire locked up a share of the Big Northern Conference East Division title and made the Rockets the third 20-win team in the area.

“They’re a pretty steady bunch of kids,” R-B coach Mike Giese said. “This weekend we didn’t play well [in

doubleheader losses to Antioch]. We got back to where we were.”

R-B (20-6 overall, 8-1 BNC East) can win the title outright with a victory at 4:30 p.m. today at Marengo. Burlington Central (8-2) is finished with its division games.

“It means a lot,” left fielder Travis Jewell said. “At the beginning of the year we had four or five third-year players. And we were adding [pitcher] E.J. [Trapino] to that mix. We still have to work hard. We still have other goals ahead.”

Giese said the team’s goals every season start with 20 victories, a division title and a regional title, so the Rockets are two-thirds of the way there. Trapino (7-2) labored through the first three innings with 80 pitches and a 4-3 lead.

The junior left-hander, who struck out 13 against Marengo and 18 against North Boone, did not allow a hit and faced the minimum the rest of the way.

“I found my spot on the mound and got in a nice rhythm,” Trapino said. “I go into each game with the same mental set, to try to shut them down any way I can.”

Trapino said he was having a problem with a hole where he was stepping on the mound as he pitched. As the game went on, he found a way to keep filling that hole so it was level. He struck out six, allowed five hits and threw 127 pitches.

“He pitched a really good game, and we got some timely hits,” Giese said. “Our kids have put themselves in a very good position. They’re good. I don’t have to give rah-rah speeches to get them going.”

Jewell and Williams drove in runs in the second inning. Catcher Donny Stupienski drove in a run in both the fourth and seventh innings. Nick Holze led Hampshire (12-12, 5-4) with a pair of doubles and one RBI.

“Our defense and pitching have been pretty good,” Whip-Purs coach Steve Ream said. “We’re not hitting that well as a team, but we made some contact and hit the ball a little today.”

It didn’t help the Whips that their second-leading hitter, Tyler Crater, is out with a sprained ankle. Ream expected him back for the IHSA Class 3A Hampshire Regional next week. Sophomore Brandon Wescher (0-2) was called up from the sophomore team for his second varsity start.