Coaches Corner  -- A brief recap of each game from Head Coach Mike Day's and Assistant Coach Bill Deevy's perspective:

07/25 Arlington Longshots 5 - Big Red 1
Tim Oakley tossed six strong innings, but three errors in the fourth led to four Arlington runs and Barrington never recovered, dropping the tournament final, 5-1. Big Red managed only four hits in the contest, two by Handler, and one each by Tim Oakley and Steve Weisshappel.
With their second place finish in Buffalo Grove, Big Red finished the summer with a third, two seconds and five first place trophies.
Thanks to everyone who followed our summer on this website. We appreciate your support.

07/25 Big Red 13 - Algonquin 3
Big Red pounded out 16 hits as Johnny Day went the distance, yielding 5 hits. Tim Oakley reached base 5 times, Joe Sheetz four times, and Day, Steve Weisshappel and AJ Krzysko three times each. A five-run second inning, highlighted by Ryan Ehmen's big double, iced it for Barrington, sending them to the finals.

07/24 Big Red 11 - Prospect Heights 0
Big Red began the playoff round of the Buffalo Grove tournament with the shutout effort from Steve Weisshappel, Joe Sheetz and Jeremy Voltz. Jason Batliner reached base three times. Hits by Johnny Day, Tim Oakley, Gus Handler, Eric Wagenaar, AJ Krzysko and Voltz shut the door in the sixth.

07/22 Big Red 15 - Prospect Heights 2
Big Red knocked out twelve hits, including home runs by Gus Handler and Steve Weisshappel as Johnny Day reached base five times and Handler, Eric Wagenaar and Weisshappel four times each.

07/21 Big Red 11 - Crystal Lake 2
Ryan Ehmen, Tim Oakley and Joe Sheetz combined on the four-hitter as Big Red knocked out 11 hits. Gus Handler reached base four times and Eric Wagenaar, Tim Oakley and Jason Batliner three times each.

07/20 Big Red 12 - Glen Ellyn 2
Big Red broke open a tight game with a sixth run sixth, using a handful of walks, a hit batter, and error and big RBI hits by Gus Handler and Ryan Ehmen. Johnny Day and Handler were on base four times, and Steve Weisshappel, Max Deevy and Jason Batliner reached three times each. Deevy was sharp for 5 1/3, yielding no hits after the first, and Joe Sheetz came on in the sixth to face one hitter and get a DP.

07/19 Mt. Prospect Mavericks 5 - Big Red 3
Big Red came up short again against the Mavericks in another tough one to claim second place in the tournament. Tim Oakley, Gus Handler, Steve Weisshappel and Eric Wagenaar had the only hits for Barrington, who claimed their seventh top three finish of the summer.

07/19 Big Red 2 - Des Plaines 0
Tthe tournament sem-final was a nail-biter as Big Red could only use small ball to score. The first run came home when Max Deevy and AJ Krzysko singled and were bunted over by Eric Wagenaar. Deevy got a great break off third base and stole home with a great slide on a missed suicide squeeze. In the fifth, Jason Batliner reached on a bunt single, stole second and came home on Johnny Day's single for the final run of the game. Eric Wagenaar and Tim Oakley were sharp on the hill, combining for the shutout, sending Barrington into the finals.

07/18 Big Red 9 - Elmhurst 1
Big Red used a nice effort on the hill from Johnny Day and Gus Handler to gain a spot in the playoff round of the Mt. Prospect tournament. Handler, Ryan Ehmen, Max Deevy and AJ Krzysko reached base three times each as Big Red used three in the first and four in the third to put it out of reach.

07/17 Big Red 15 - Mt. Prospect Mustangs 2
Big Red piled on again in the Mt. Prospect tourney, using 9 hits and a handful of walks to invoke the mercy rule.

07/17 Big Red 21 - Lombard 4
Big Red banged out 17 hits as everyone contributed to the attack.

07/16 Mt. Prospect Mavericks 6 - Big Red 4
The Mt. Prospect tournament opener found the host team topping the Big Red squad, 6-4. The game offered tension from the start, as both teams were scoreless through three. When the Mavericks put up three in the fourth, Big Red came right back with three of their own when Tim Oakley and Gus Handler doubled. Max Deevy singled home two runs to tie the game and it stayed that way until the sixth, when the Mavericks got three more. Big Red, in another never-say-die effort plated one run and left the bases loaded, going down 6-4. Johnny Day tossed three shutout innings. Handler was on base three times, with Krzysko, Deevy and Eric Wagenaar reaching twice each.

07/15 Big Red 6 - Algonquin 5
Big Red came out on top in another tough game against Algonquin, when, with two out in the eighth, Jeremy Voltz was hit by a pitch, Johnny Day doubled and, as darkness fell, Tim Oakley laced a long single to right, knocking the tying and winning runs home. The game went back and forth, with Barrington taking a 2-0 lead before Algonquin rallied for 3 in the third. Max Deevy came on to toss three shutout innings before Algonquin tied it in the seventh. Big Red tied it in the bottom half on hits by Day and Oakley and an intentional walk to Gus Handler when Steve Weisshappel was hit by a pitch. The eighth inning offered more drama when Algonquin used a hit, an error and a walk to take the lead. Handler came on with two on and none out to shut the door, leaving the bags juiced and setting the stage for the Big Red comeback in the bottom half.

07/13 New Trier 14 - Big Red 9
Big Red pitching surrendered 13 hits in a sloppy outing, wasting a twelve hit effort of their own. Oakley and Handler reached base four times each, to no avail.

07/12 Big Red 6 - Berwyn Bulldogs 4
Big Red used 13 hits and some solid defense to hold off the always tough Bulldogs. Johnny day, Tim Oakley and Steve Weisshappel reached base three times each and AJ Krzysko, Max Deevy and Gus Handler twice apiece as Eric Wagenaar stranded 9 runners before Jeremy Voltz closed it with 2 2/3 shutout innings on the hill. Barrington turned two late double plays to slow down the Berwyn attack. Big Red overcame a 4-3 deficit when Krzysko, Day, Oakley, Handler, Weisshappel and Deevy strung together base hits to put up a three spot and close out the scoring.

07/11 Barringtonton Classic Tournament - (Championship game) Big Red 3 - Hoffman Heat 2
Big Red captured the tournament championship with a thrilling 3-2 win over the Hoffman Heat on a humid Sunday at beautiful Beese Field. The game went down to the final pitch as Hoffman stranded the tying and winning runs at second and third as the game ended. Johnny Day, Tim Oakley and Joe Sheetz allowed only two unearned runs, scattering four hits. Hoffman hurlers were equally stingy, as Barrington could manage only seven safeties. Big Red got on the board first when Max Deevy singled in the third inning, stole second and came in on a Hoffman error. The lead grew to 3-0 in the third when Oakley and Gus Handler pounded out back-to-back doubles and Handler scored on a throwing error as he moved to third. Hoffman came right back in the bottom of the fourth when a misplayed grounder, followed by a double and a single, brought the Heat back to within one. Both teams mounted threats in the sixth and seventh innings and the tension only grew when Hoffman pulled off a double steal with two out in the bottom of the seventh, advancing the tying run to third and the winning run to second base. Sheetz got a pop-out to end the game as Big Red came out on top in the tournament finale, 3-2. While MVP awards were handed out game-by-game, Big Red proved again shared the credit around, with 5 different award winners and six other players with MVP caliber performances, in capturing their fifth tournament title of the season.

07/11 Barringtonton Classic Tournament - Big Red 10 - Bartlett Silverhawks 3
The Big Red Machine went on a hitting tear, pounding out 15 to bust open a close semi-final match with a tough Bartlett squad. After a Tim Oakley single in the first, Steve Weisshappel knocked him in for the game's first run. Opening the third, Johnny Day and Oakley singles were followed by Handler's two-RBI baseknock, giving Barrington a 3-0 lead. In the fifth inning, Big Red batted around, tallying six big ones that put the game out of reach. Day, AJ Krzysko, Oakley, Gus Handler, Weisshappel (2 RBI), Ryan Ehmen (2-RBI double), and Max Deevy strung together consecutive hits, and by the time the third out was made, six runs had crossed the plate. Eric Wagenaar knocked home the tenth run to finish the scoring in the seventh. Oakley had three singles and Handler, Ehmen and Deevy all reached base four times with two hits and two hit-by-pitches each, while Wagenaar also reached four times with two hits and two walks. Day, Handler and Oakley scattered five hits on the mound. Barrington moved on to the tournament final against the Hoffman Heat, victors in a 2-1 extra-inning thriller against a strong Cary team.

07/10 Barringtonton Classic Tournament - Big Red 12 - Germantown 2
Big Red turned a tight contest into a rout with a 6-run fourth inning. Jeremy Voltz, Joe Sheetz and Tim Oakley were strong on the hill, scattering seven hits, while amassing thirteen of their own, to go along with six walks. Jason Batliner, Steve Weisshappel, Gus Handler and AJ Krzysko each reached base in all three plate appearances. Handler knocked in three on the day, and Voltz, Weisshappel and Ryan Ehmen had 2 RBI apiece. Barrington finished pool play at 3-0 and took a #1 seed into the semi-final round.

07/10 Barringtonton Classic Tournament - Big Red 2 - Cary 1
As the field damp from Friday's rain dried under Saturday morning's sunny skies, Big Red and Cary played out a classic game of cat-and-mouse, with Barrington hanging on for a 2-1 win. Cary scored in the top of the first. A walk and an error put runners at second and third in the bottom half for Big Red and Johnny Day's RBI grounder followed by Gus Handler's two-strike sac fly was all the Big Red would get, as the Cary hurlers held them to three hits. Day, Joe Sheetz and Jeremy Voltz were terrific on the hill facing only nineteen hitters over the final 6 innings. Sensational Big Red defense in the fourth inning was the difference. After a Cary double opened the inning, third baseman Max Deevy faked the throw to first on a grounder and nabbed the baserunner advancing from second cold. After the next baserunner moved to second, Sheetz picked him off with a nice inside move. Cary still wouldn't quit, getting another runner to second base. When he tried to score on the third hit of the inning, Eric Wagenaar's perfect throw from right field to Day nipped him at the plate.

07/09 Barringtonton Classic Tournament - Big Red 20 - Northbrook 1
Big Red took the opener of the Barrington Tournament with an overwhelming effort. Max Deevy, Steve Weisshappel, Gus Handler, Tim Oakley and AJ Krzysko all had perfect days at the plate, reaching base in every appearance, as every Big Red player scored at least once. Northbrook could muster only three hits against Oakley, Weisshappel and Deevy on the hill.

07/08 Big Red 11 - Mundelein Red Devils 0
The opening game of the Buffalo Grove two-week tournament went Big Red's way, 11-0, as Gus Handler, Joe Sheetz and Jeremy Voltz combined for the 5-inning shutout. Tim Oakley singled for his first of four hits and Ryan Ehmen's single highlighted a first inning that netted three, and a Gus Handler double and Eric Wagenaar and Joe Sheetz singles put up three more in the third. Oakley's double, Ehmen's single and Max Deevy's single capped a 5-run fourth as Big Red capitalized on an error and two hit batsmen.

07/06 Big Red 7 - Lake Zurich 7
Big Red squandered a 4-0 lead and then roared back with 3 seventh inning runs to salvage a tie. Opening frame triples by Tim Oakely and Steve Weisshappel netted three runs and an Oakley double followed by Ryan Ehmen and Oakley singles made it 4-0. Jeremy Voltz tossed four strong innings, leaving with a 4-1 lead. Lake Zurich came out gangbusters in the sixth, using 7 hits to pile up six runs to take the lead. Big Red took advantage of 4 walks, an error and only one hit to score three times in the seventh, leaving the bases loaded as darkness fell at the end of seven.

06/26 CWS Omaha Tournament - Big Red 5 - Omaha Cardinals 8
Big Red dreams of an Omaha championship came crashing down in a rematch when the Cardinals used a 5-run third to overcome a 2-1 Big Red lead. Two hits apiece from AJ Krzysko, Tim Oakley and Johnny Day weren't enough to offset the Omaha attack.

06/26 CWS Omaha Tournament - Big Red 11 - Parker, Colorado Warhawks 0
Gus Handler threw four shutout innings and Eric Wagenaar mopped up with one of his own as the Big Red squad moved on to the semi-finals, 11-0. Johnny Day, Tim Oakley and Steve Weisshappel reached base three times each Big Red took advantage of some early walks to move ahead 6-0 after two innings, and coasted from there.

06/25 CWS Omaha Tournament - Big Red 11 - Regis Raiders (Colo) 1
Big Red ended pool play with an 11-1 win over the Regis Raiders from Aurora, Colorado. Jason Batliner, Tim Oakely and Eric Wagenaar were tough on the hill, scattering four hits. At the plate, Oakley and Johnny Day reached base three times each for Barrington. Oakley's triple led to the first run and then a string of beautiful suicide bunts totally confounded the Raiders. In the second, AJ Krzysko squeezed home Max Deevy, who had singled, and Batliner squeezed home Krzysko. IA four spot in the third featured Oakley and Ehmen singles, a Deevy suicide, and Steve Weisshappel's RBI single. Joe Sheetz's double capped the scoring as Big Red moved on to elimination play.

06/25 CWS Omaha Tournament - Big Red 6 - Omaha Cards 4
Big Rred made the 500 mile journey west to enjoy the College World Series and compete in the Omaha College World Series Tournament. Game one got off to a competitive start with a 6-4 win over the hometown favorite, the Omaha Cardinals. Jeremy Voltz and Joe Sheetz kept the Cardinals in check with some nice work on the hill for Barrington. After leaving the bases loaded in the first, Big Red put up a three spot in the third. Gus Handler drove home Tim Oakley, and scored on Ryan Ehmen's basehit. Ehmen was knocked in by Max Deevy for the final tally of the inning. Big Red's second and decisive three-run inning came in the fifth, when Steve Weisshappel singled, stole second and third and was squeezed home by Jason Batliner. After a wild pitch brought home a second tally from AJ Krzysko, Johnny Day knocked home an insurance run with a single. Oakley reached base four time and Day three for the victors.

06/20 Bourbonnais Tourney - Big Red 6 - Winfield 4
Big Red emerged victorious in the finals of the Bourbonnais Tournament with a 6-4 win. Big Red scored first when Johnny Day singled, Gus Handler doubled and Ryan Ehmen singled in a run. Max Deevy's suicide squeeze scored the second run and Steve Weisshappel's single notched the third. After Winfield tied the game in the second, Tim Oakley came on in relief and twirled 5 sharp innings, allowing only three hits the rest of the way. Big Red pulled in front when Day doubled and Oakley doubled him home. Oakely's second double of the game was followed by a Handler single and Ehmen's sacrifice fly for a Big Red insurance run and Day singled home Jason Batliner with the final tally in the bottom of the sixth. Strong defense, led by Steve Weisshappel's efforts at short, was key to the Big Red win.

06/20 Bourbonnais Tourney - Big Red 12 - Windy City 2
Big Red struggled at the plate early in the semi-final game of the tournament, but Gus handler and Joe Sheetz hung tough on the mound for seven strong innings. Johnny Day and Gus Handler reached base four times and Ryan Ehmen and Tim Oakley three times each.

06/19 Bourbonnais Tourney - Big Red 7 - TNT 9
Big Red struggled early, giving up 7 runs in the first two innings, as their comeback efforts fell short.Down 9-3, Big Red got 4 third inning runs to make a game of it, then left the bases loaded in the fourth and stranded the tying run at the plate in the fifth in the time-limit shortened game.Ryan Ehmen had two hits and reached base three times.

06/19 Bourbonnais Tourney - Big Red 11 - Sandwich 1
Big Red feasted on Sandwich early as Steve Weisshappel and Jeremy Voltz threw five strong innings. Tim Oakley reached base three times and Ryan Ehmen, Eric Wagenaar and AJ Krzysko had two hits apiece.

06/19 Bourbonnais Tourney - Big Red 15 - DuPage 0
Tim Oakley threw three perfect innings and added a single, triple and homer at the plate as Big Red started out their tourney quest with a three-inning mercy rule win. Ryan Ehmen reached base four times and Max Deevy and Jeremy Voltz three times each.

06/17 Big Red 12 - Grayslake 2
Big Red used a 9-run second inning to ice this one early. Eric Wagenaar reached base three times for Barrington as Jeremy Voltz, Max Deevy and Steve Weisshappel were stingy on the hill.

06/15 Big Red 3 - Schaumburg Redhawks 13
The Redhawks 7-run fourth erased a 2-1 Big Red lead. Ryan Ehmen had two base hits for Barrington and Stephen Weisshappel reached base twice.

06/14  Big Red 3 - Lake Zurich Cougars 4
A late Big Red rally came up short as the Cougars held on for a 4-3 win. Joe Sheetz and Jason Batliner threw 4 1/3 shutout relief innings to keep it close. AJ Krzysko reached base in all four plate appearances and Sheetz and Steve Weisshappel reached base three times each for Barrington. Gus Handler had two base hits.

06/09 Barrington Big Red 8 - Norridge Young Guns 15
Big Red's 4-3 lead after three innings dissipated when the Young Guns used errors, walks and timely hitting to run away with a win. Tim Oakley and AJ Krzysko were on base three times apiece for Barrington.

06/05 BIG RED 8 - Dupage 7
Down 5-0 in the first inning, Big Red put together a string of 4 one-run innings before cracking the game open with a 4-run sixth.  Jeremy Voltz faced only one man over the limit in 3 1/3 innings of strong relief, Stephen Weisshappel held Dupage in check and Johnny Day earned the save, stranding the tying run at third base and the lead run at second to end the game.  Barrington bats finally came to life with 12 base hits for the game, two each by AJ Krzysko, Gus Handler, Tim Oakley and Eric Waggenaar.  Critical to their success was Big Red's flawless play in the fieldas they committed no errors in the game.  Handler had three RBI and Day knocked in the lead runs in the sixth for Barrington.

06/05 BIG RED 1 - Dupage 5
Big Red yielded only 2 earned runs, but quiet bats led to a 5-1 loss.  Stephen Weisshappel had two of Barrington's 5 hits as Max Deevy and Joe Sheetz kept Dupage in check on the hill, holding them to only 5 hits

06/03 BIG RED 3 - McHenry 4
Big Red dropped a tough one to McHenry, 4-3.  Gus Handler and Johnny Day were tough on the hill, but McHenry's 3-run fifth was fed by 3 critical Big Red errors in the field.  Ryan Ehmen drove home the first run, Max Deevy's double knocked in the second, and Jeremy Voltz singled home the tying run in the sixth.  Deevy and Voltz had two hits for Barrington.

06/03 BIG RED 5 - McHenry 4
(Add to previous write-up)
Big Red won the extra inning contest against the #2 team in the state, continued from last month, 5-4 when Tim Oakley singled, Gus Handler walked and Ryan Ehmen singled home the winning run.

06/01 BIG RED 5 - Lake Zurich 11
Big Red fell 11-5, yielding 10 runs in the first three innings.  Jeremy Voltz was strong in relief, giving up only one run over the final four innings.  AJ Krzysko (two hits), Ryan Ehmen (two hits) and Eric Waggenaar had doubles for Barrington.

5/29 Big Red 3 - Antioch Seqouits 2
Big Red walked away with the tournament championship of the Mundelein Memorial Day Tournament, thanks to a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Antioch.  Barrington relied on great pitching from Joe Sheetz, Johnny Day and Gus Handler to keep Antioch in check and scratched out just enough offense to prevail under damp and rainy conditions.  Barrington moved on top 2-1 when Max Deevy drove in the lead run after Handler and Ryan Ehmen base hits.  Antioch tied it in the sixth, but Big Red came through in the bottom half when Day walked and Tim Oakley bunted him to second.  An intentional walk to Handler challenged Ehmen, who came through with a 3-2 single to center to end the game.  Eric Wagenaar and Oakley also had base hits, and Barrington picked up two double plays, from Oakley in center to Stephen Weisshappel at short and from Day on the mound to Handler at first.  When the balance of the tournament was washed out due to the heavy rains, Barrington earned the championship trophy based on their undefeated record and fewest runs allowed per game.

5/25 Seminoles 8, Big Red 1
Once again, Big Red gave the #1 ranked team in the state all they could handle for 6 innings before giving up 5 seventh inning runs to fall 8-1.  Joe Sheetz threw his best stuff at the Seminoles for four innings and only a couple of hit batters and a bloop single marred his effort.   Big Red suffered from a lack of timely hitting, stranding 4 runners in the first and second innings, all in scoring position.  Johnny Day knocked home Big Red's only tally on the day, on the second of his two hits.  Sheetz, Tim Oakley, Gus Handler and Ryan Ehmen also hit safely for Barrington

5/23 Lake Villa 6, Big Red 5 
Barrington dropped a tough one to the Lake Villa Tigers, 6-5 at beautiful Sage Field.  Two three run innings by the Tigers were enough and a late Barrington rally came up short.  Big Red scored first when Stephen Weisshappel drove home Ryan Ehmen, who had doubled.  Joe Sheetz created the second run by himself when he walked, beat a pick off throw to steal second, stole third and came home on a wild pitch.  Barrington moved in front whenTim Oakley and Gus Handler legged out infield singles.  Max Deevy drove home the first run of the inning, Weisshappel singled home the second, and AJ Krzysko doubled home the third.  The bottom of the seventh was a tense disappointment as Ehmen cranked a double to the wall, Deevy bunted him to third and then Weisshappel and Krzysko jacked back-to-back rockets that were caught deep in the outfield by Villa Park.  Oakley threw out a base-stealer and Johnny Day and Jeremy Voltz pitched well for Big Red, but critical defensive lapses were costly for the Barrington team.

5/22 Big Red 3, Berwyn Bulldogs 2  Big Red tossed a goose-egg at the #8 team in the state, taking the first game of the DH 3-0. Eric Wagenaar and Joe Sheetz were outstanding on the hill, scattering 6 hits. Barrington's defense made a big contribution as Wagenaar picked off a runner, Johnny Day tossed out two base stealers, Tim Oakley had a nice tumbling grab of a pop-up, Jeremy Voltz and Max Deevy put up web gems at third base and Gus Handler had a nice pick at first. Big Red got on the board in the second when Stephen Weisshappel singled and AJ Krzysko doubled him home. The tight game stayed at 1-0 until the Barrington sixth, when Day doubled, Ryan Ehmen doubled him in and Deevy singled Ehmen home for the final tally.

Game two of the twin bill proved that turnabout is fair play, as Berwyn prevailed, 4-0. Ryan Ehmen ripped the only hit for Barrington, as the Big Red squad wasted four strong shutout innings from Gus Handler and three nifty double plays in the field.

5/19 Seminoles  2, Big Red  1  Coming off a tough loss, Big Red took on the number one team in the state, and almost pulled off the upset.  On the hill, Jason Batliner and Max Deevy stymied the Seminole hitters all game long.  Johnny Day and Ryan Ehmen were stranded after early base hits, but when Gus Handler singled to start the fifth and Ehmen followed with a double, Barrington had their first threat.  Jeremy Voltz got an RBI with a bases loaded walk.  Big Red threatened in the seventh, but Ehmen's would-be game-tying single was turned into a DP by some nice Seminole defense.  AJ Krzysko started a nice DP on a fly ball, and Stephen Weisshappel  threw out a runner at the plate from center field.

5/18  Menomonee  Clubbers  13, Big Red  12.  The Big Red squad rallied from an 11-2 deficit, only to drop a heartbreaker, 13-12 to the Clubbers, who rallied in the seventh under cover of darkness.  Barrington struggled all day at the plate and in the field after the lengthy trip to the ITT campus in Chicago, but still managed to grab the lead late.  Joe Sheetz relieved on the hill and stopped the bleeding with a terrific outing, retiring 10 of the 11 hitters he faced.  Ryan Ehmen singled home a run, Jeremy Voltz knocked in 3 with a bases loaded rip, and when Sheetz came home on a passed ball, it was 11-7.  Three sixth inning runs made it 11-10.  In the seventh, Max Deevy singled and scored and Stephen Weisshappel singled and came home with the lead run on Jason Batliner's ground out.  But Menomonee used a "homer in the gloamin" to tie in the seventh. Johnny Day and Tim Oakley reached base three times and Eric Wagenaar was on four times for Barrington.

5/16 Big Red squeaked out a 3-2 win over the Chicago Roos in the first-half of a twinbill behind the six-hit pitching of Gus Handler and Eric Wagenaar. Behind 2-0, Big Red broke through as Wagenaar bunted for a hit, advanced to third and scored on a passed ball. They tied the game in the fifth when Max Deevy singled, Stephen Weisshappel forced him but stole second and then scored on Tim Oakley's sac fly. Big Red's bottom six rally proved to be the difference. Joe Sheetz got a clutch two-out single, Johnny Day coaxed a walk, and Sheetz scored all the way from second, beating the thrown home when AJ Krzysko legged out a slow roller. Big Red helped their own cause on defense by picking off two runners and Oakley gunned down a runner stealing.
The nightcap of the DH went to the Roos, 8-3, as Big Red pitching donated 5 walks, an error and a hit batter to the Roos' cause in the first and second innings, resulting in 7 runs on three hits. Barrington kept striking back, but each thrust was parried by a great Chicago Roo defensive effort, including a great play at the plate from center field. Ryan Ehmen went down twice on deep shots to the outfield, and Handler, Jason Batliner and Weisshappel had potential run-scoring liners with two aboard speared in three separate innings on great plays by the Roos as Big Red stranded seven runners.

5/11  Big Red ties the states #3 ranked team, the McHenry Co. Hurricanes, 4 to 4 at Sage Field.  Johnny Day goes 3 for 3 with a double, both Gus Handler and Stephen Weisshappel double.  Eric Wagenaar pitches 3 1/3, allowing one earned run and Day 3 2/3 allowing no earned runs. Stephen Weisshappel turned a sparkling doubleplay on a linedrive to shortstop and Jason Batliner makes a spectacular diving grab of a looper in short centerfield.

5/6  Big Red beats the Fox Valley Hitmen 23 -3 at Lions Park in Cary.  Johnny Day (two doubles), A.J. Krzysko (triple), Gus Handler, Ryan Ehmen, Max Deevy, Stephen Weisshappel (two doubles), Tim Oakley, Jason Batliner and Jeremy Voltz all have multiple hit games.  Batliner goes 5 for 5.  Krzysko, Deevy and Batliner combine for a 5 hitter.

5/4  Big Red loses 16 - 4 at home to the Menomonee Clubbers in a lackluster effort.  The only highlights were a first inning home run by Gus Handler and Ryan Ehmem went 3 for 3.

5/2 The Big Red's 4-0 tournament weekend was a result of some well-played, timely baseball. With only 9 hits in two games Saturday, they pulled off two close wins, with clutch pitching efforts and solid defense, using productive outs and great situational hitting. Twenty-one hits on Sunday resulted in 25 runs, with great pitching in the final game clinching the championship trophy.

5/2 Eric Wagenaar came up big in the championship game, tossing 5 1/3 innings of one-hit ball.  Wagenaar also doubled twice and singled, knocking in three runs. Strong defense helped as both Handler and Ehmen made nice fence-crashing grabs on foul pops and Day tossed out two would-be base stealers. Tim Oakley reached base all three times, while Jeremy Voltz, Joe Sheetz, Stephen Weisshappel, Max Deevy (double), Ryan Ehmen (double) and Johnny Day were on twice each. The Big Red squad busted open a 1-1 pitchers' duel in the fourth with 10 runs and nine hits over the final three innings against four different hurlers. Ehmen reached, Deevy doubled, and Weisshappel singled them in for the lead. Wagenaar then doubled home Oakley and Batliner, who had walked. Voltz scored in the fifth on a Gus Handler single and after a Ryan Ehmen double , both scored on a misplayed grounder. Base hits in the sixth by Oakley, Wagenaar, Day and Krzysko resulted in two final tallies.

5/2 In the semi-finals of the W.Y.S.A. Opening Day Invitational, Big Red knocked out 11 hits and patiently accepted 10 free passes to beat the Port Washington Predtors 15 - 7.   AJ Krzysko (double), Gus Handler, Ryan Ehmen, Max Deevy and Jason Batliner all reached base three times, with Stephen Weisshappel (double) and Tim Oakley (two doubles) reaching twice each. Big Red pitchers yielded 10 hits, but struck out 9 in a workman-like effort, with Oakley fanning three in one shutout inning.

5/1 The Big Red Squad beat the Wisconsin Diamond Kings, the #17 ranked team in the nation (#1 in Wiscosin), 5 - 4. Big Red bunched 3 of their four hits in a 5-run fourth to rally from a 2-0 hole. Jason Batliner relieved in the first, got three outs on two pitches: a pop up and a Deevy to Handler DP, then baffled the Kings for four more innings with a smart array of well-located stuff. The Big Red offense jolted the Kings in the fourth: after Batliner and Johnny Day reached base, AJ Krzysko moved the runners along. With two out and a run in, Max Deevy ripped a game-tying single up the middle. Steve Weisshappel put the Big Red in the lead with a smash and Ryan Ehmen followed suit, padding the lead with his second hit of the game. Fireman Jeremy Voltz closed it out for Barrington, who enjoyed some more terrific defense in an error-free tilt, sending them to the playoff bracket of the Wisconsin Youth Sports Association Tournament.

5/1 In the Wiscosin Youth Sports Authority's Opening Day Tourney, the Big Red ham and egged their way to a  7 - 5 victory over the Northshore Americans despite managing only 5 hits.  Big Red  used great situational hitting to score three runs on bunts and four on ground balls with runners in scoring position.  Johnny Day came in in the third, providing scoreless relief innings to get the win.  Defensive gems from Jeremy Voltz on a grounder at third and AJ Krzysko and Jason Batliner on diving infield catches.

4/27  Big Red manages only four hits in an 8 - 2 loss to the Schaumburg Redhawks at Sage Field.  Max Deevy delivers two hits, Johnny Day contributes a double.  Stephen Weisshappel and Day both have great diving catches in the outfield, Deevy a great diving play on a grounder at third and A.J. Krzysko throws a runner out at the plate.  Gus Handler pitches two scoreless innings in relief.

4/24  Big Red wins the second half of the twin bill with an 11 - 6, comeback win in 8 innings.  Johnny  Day and A.J. Krzysko each contribute three hits, each doubling and reaching base four times.  Max Deevy and Stephen Weisshappel  each have two hits and also reach base four times. Gus Handler has a triple, Eric Wagenaar a double.  Day pitches four shutout innings in relief for the win.

4/24  Big Red  wins 13 -7  in the first half of a doubleheader at Hoffman Estates.  Ryan Ehmen , Gus Handler and A.J. Krzysko paced the attack with three hits a piece,  each doubling .  Tim Oakley has two hits, including a double.  Handler again has a diving catch off the bump and the second base-shortstop combo of Krzysko and Joe Sheetz turn a sparkling double play.  Eric Wagenaar goes four innings, allowing  one run.  Handler pitches two scoreless innings for the save.

4/18    Gus Handler and Johnny Day pitched 5 innings of two-hit shutout ball, leading Big Red over the Mundelein Mustangs 8 to 6.  Jason Batliner keyed a 5-run second inning with a two-out, two-strike single that drove in two runs.  Gus Handler had a spectacular diving catch off the mound and Stephen Weisshappel turned a game-ending doubleplay with an awesome diving catch on a liner to shortstop.

4/17  The Big Red broke a 4-4 tie with two in the sixth and then busted out with an 11-run 6th inning to come out on top 17-7.  EVERY BIG RED PLAYER REACHED BASE AT LEAST TWICE!!  Gus Handler was on base 4 times and Jeremy Voltz, Erik Wagenaar, Jason Batliner, Joe Sheetz  and AJ Krzysko reached safely 3 times each.  Stephen Weisshappel threw two shutout innings for Big Red.

4/13  Big Red lost 11 - 4 to the Lombard Launchers at Lombard.   Big Red jumped out to four-run lead in the first inning thanks in large-part to Joe Sheetz's bases-clearing, two-strike double. Sheetz went 2 for 2, Gus Handler 2 for 3,   Max Deevy  reached base twice and Johny Day reached basd all three plate appearances.
Eric Wagenaar kept Lombard in check for four innings with a nice mix of fastballs and change-ups before the Launchers broke through late for an 11-4 win. Some sloppy Big Red defense combined with timely Lombard hitting was the difference.  Tim Oakley  turned in two defensive gems, including a fantastic tumbling grab of a fly ball in short center that he turned into a DP when he fired a strike to first baseman Ryan Ehmen.

4/8 Max Deevy has a huge, clutch game-winning single to beat a very tough Johnsburg squad 2 to 1 at Sage Field.  Handler doubles in the tying run with a double in the bottom of the fourth.  Handler provides a great scoop and tag at third base on a throw from a charging Johnny Day in centerfield to preserve the win in the top of the last inning. Big Red's stellar pitching continues as Gus Handler, Eric Wagenaar and Joe Sheetz combine for a three hitter at Sage Field.