Barrington slips past Palatine

Cleanup hitter Brian Coll decided a battle of Mid-Suburban Northunbeatens at Barrington Friday with situation hitting.

Coll's single in the bottom of the eighth scored Tony Mensikfrom second base and gave Barrington a 3-2 victory. It settled apitchers' duel between Barrington's Dave Anderson and Palatine's MikeFalcone.

"I was just trying to make contact," Coll said. "(Falcone) wasreally tough, especially his curveball. He threw me his curve and I just got the end of the bat on it. It was agreat feeling seeing that ball go over the second baseman's head."

Mensik's leadoff single in the eighth broke a string of 14straight batters retired by Falcone. Falcone's roll began when heinduced Byron Bradley into a third-inning-ending double play with thebases loaded and score tied 2-2.

Mensik stole second with one out before Coll drove him in.

Barrington (8-0, 3-0) scored a run in the first on KevinMinchk's bases-loaded single to left that scored Adam Sobocienski(two doubles). Coll became the second base-running victim on theplay when he was thrown out at home by left fielder Jeff Forsberg.

Barrington took a 2-0 lead in the second when Byron Bradleysingled, stole second and scored on Jason Huddelston's single toright field.

Palatine (9-1, 2-1) notched its two runs in the third after twowere out. Dan Marzec tripled and scored on Jim Pfeifer's single.After a passed ball and wild pitch, Dave Sharkey singled home Pfeiferto make it 2-2.

Six major league scouts were on hand to watch Anderson, a 6-4senior right-hander who improved to 3-0.

"My location wasn't as good as I wanted early in the game," saidAnderson, who allowed seven of 11 hits in the first three innings. "Iwas getting the ball right over the middle. As the game went on, Ichanged my locations and speeds and kept the ball in play."