Senior shortstop Connor Dominick and his Riverside Brookfield High School baseball teammates entered their big game against rival Lyons Township, April 22, with memories of a rough first inning in their previous outing. But when the Lions scored three runs in the top of the first, the Bulldogs had the answer this time.
RBHS unleashed seven runs, and senior winning pitcher Ronnie Murphy helped that hold in a 7-4 victory at Ehlert Park.
“This is a big win, a top-15 team in the state. This is our best win of the season so far and we’re only going to get better from here,” Dominick said. “It’s just put the ball in play, put pressure on them. We did that and they messed up a couple of times. We got some good hits, some good baserunning. A whole team effort right there.”
The Bulldogs (12-5, 7-2 in Upstate Eight Conference East Division) collected all seven runs with two outs and nobody on base. The scoring concluded with a two-run double by leadoff hitter Marco Villardito and included run-scoring singles by Dominick and Tommy Bogdan. That was more than enough offense for Murphy (4-2, 3.46 earned-run average), who allowed five hits over six innings with seven strikeouts and one walk. Sophomore William Harbeck pitched a 1-2-3 seventh with two strikeouts.
“This is definitely the top one,” Murray said. “I felt my best. I felt the strongest, felt I was throwing the hardest. I could spot my pitches well. It’s a huge win for our team.”
The Bulldogs could have wavered after the Lions (14-3, 5-1 in West Suburban Conference Silver Division) struck with their three-run first fueled by Tommy Georgelos’ two-run, opposite-field double to left field.
In the Bulldogs’ previous home game against Oak Lawn, April 17, the Spartans greeted them with a seven-run first en route to a 7-1 victory. Oak Lawn defeated RBHS 4-1 in last year’s Class 4A regional semifinals.
“Two games in a row where all of the production was in the first inning,” RBHS coach Mark Ori said.
“It was nice to see our guys respond. We didn’t really help Ronnie out in the top of the first inning – some balls I thought we could have made plays on. But we responded well.”
Besides timely hits, the Bulldogs’ first included Michael Kallas getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Braeden Novak reaching on a third-strike wild pitch. There also were two errors, two walks and two passed balls.
“It was just one bad inning,” LTHS coach Kevin Diete said. “We just talked about it. If you have one bad inning like that, that’s what teams like this will do. It’s good to experience. Hopefully we’ll see them again in regionals.”
Georgelos doubled after Brady Koren singled, Lon Roberts reached on an infield error and Aidan Webster walked. Webster later scored on a passed ball. The Lions’ only other hits were in the sixth on singles by Nick Hines, Georgelos and EJ Kuhlman (RBI).
The Bulldogs followed on April 23 with a 7-4 UEC crossover victory over West Aurora. Villardito had a double, three hits and three RBIs. Aidan Polich (3 strikeouts in 3 innings) was the winning pitcher in relief of Damian Noa (5 strikeouts in 4 innings).
In WSC Silver play, the Lions swept Glenbard West 5-0, Thursday, 3-2, April 21, and 14-2, April 20.
Sophomore pitcher Tommy Cavaliere threw a four-hit shutout Thursday with five strikeouts and no walks. Roberts (3 for 4, double) and Webster (3 RBIs) and Justin Heydorn (2 doubles) had seven of the nine hits.
Lyons Townshp’s pitcher Jack Slightom (13) delivers a pitch against Glenbard West during a West Suburban Conference game Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Lyons Townshp’s Lou Ratcliffe (12) takes a swing against Glenbard West during a West Suburban Conference game Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Lyons Townshp’s pitcher Jack Slightom (13) delivers a pitch against Glenbard West during a West Suburban Conference game Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Lyons Townshp’s Lon Roberts (3) heads out of the box after putting the ball in play against Glenbard West during a West Suburban Conference game Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Lyons Townshp’s Brady Koren (4) breaks for home against Glenbard West during a West Suburban Conference game Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark)
In the 3-2 win, pitcher Jack Slightom threw a one-hitter in his six scoreless innings with 13 strikeouts and one walk, but the Lions had just three hits. Georgelos (4 RBIs) and Heydorn (2 doubles) led the 14-2 victory.
Senior Abe Caseres has been playing shortstop as junior Blake Ragsdale recovers from a hip injury.
“The bottom line is we’re just haven’t been playing well. We’re making a lot of little mistakes,” Diete said following the RBHS game.
“I thought we put the ball in play better (against RBHS) than (in our 3-2 win), but if you’re striking out nine, 10 times, you’re not going to win many games. We’ve got to be better, bottom line.”