Diaz Tosses Complete Game, TF South Runs Past Peotone 5-1

A dominant pitching performance by senior Richard Diaz and a hyper-aggressive approach on the basepaths propelled the Thornton Fractional South varsity baseball team to a 5-1 non-conference victory over visiting Peotone on Tuesday afternoon.

Diaz was the story of the game for the Red Wolves, going the distance to earn the complete-game victory. The senior right-hander needed just 88 pitches to navigate seven innings, allowing a single run on three hits and one walk while striking out seven Peotone batters.

Peotone landed the first punch in the top of the first inning when Kayden Derkacy launched a solo home run to give the visitors an early 1-0 advantage. However, Diaz settled in immediately after, silencing the Peotone bats for the remainder of the contest. T. Harshfield and Tyler Leitelt recorded the only other hits for Peotone on the day.

Despite taking the loss, Leitelt delivered a strong performance on the mound for Peotone. He pitched four innings, striking out seven batters and allowing zero earned runs. Unfortunately, defensive miscues behind him proved costly. Thornton Fractional South capitalized on Peotone’s fielding errors to scratch across a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the third inning, taking a 2-1 lead they would never relinquish.

Thornton Fractional South’s offense relied heavily on manufacturing runs through speed. The Red Wolves terrorized the basepaths, racking up an incredible nine stolen bases as a team. Senior Chris Rodriguez and junior Eric Talbert led the track meet with two steals apiece, while five other players swiped one bag each.

Leading 2-1, TF South added vital insurance runs late in the game against Peotone’s bullpen. The hosts plated two runs in the bottom of the fifth and tacked on a final run in the sixth. Junior Abraham Serna and Rodriguez were the catalysts at the plate, each recording a pair of hits and scoring a run. Junior Juan Lozano also contributed a hit, two walks, a stolen base, and an RBI.

Peotone’s defense struggled to find its footing throughout the afternoon, committing six errors that ultimately allowed three unearned runs to cross the plate and extend TF South drives.

Game Summary

Score by Quarters

(Note: Baseball is scored by innings)

Scoring Drives

• First Quarter (Inning)

  • Peotone: 1 Run

• Third Quarter (Inning)

  • TFSHS: 2 Runs (Unearned)

• Fifth Quarter (Inning)

  • TFSHS: 2 Runs

• Sixth Quarter (Inning)

  • TFSHS: 1 Run

Individual Statistics

• PITCHING:

  • Peotone: Tyler Leitelt (L) 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 7 K; Kayden Derkacy 2.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K.

  • Thornton Fractional South: Richard Diaz (W) 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K.

• BATTING:

  • Peotone: Kayden Derkacy 1-3 (1 R, 1 HR); T. Harshfield 1-3; Tyler Leitelt 1-3; Declan McMaster 0-2 (1 BB, 1 SB).

  • Thornton Fractional South: Abraham Serna 2-3 (1 R, 1 SB); Chris Rodriguez 2-3 (1 R, 2 SB); Juan Lozano 1-2 (1 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 SB); Eric Talbert 1-2 (1 R, 1 BB, 2 SB); Dyshaun Reed 1-3 (1 R, 1 SB); Blake Sims 1-3 (1 SB).

• FIELDING:

  • Peotone: Everett Carder 8 PO, 1 A; Cole Peppers 5 PO, 1 A; Alex Chenoweth 3 PO. Team: 6 Errors.

  • Thornton Fractional South: Abraham Serna 8 PO; Chris Rodriguez 7 PO; Blake Sims 4 A; Juan Lozano 2 PO. Team: 2 Errors.