Thunder roars to take battle for Belvidere

By Bob Kopp

BDR Sports Correspondent

BELVIDERE – With Levon Smith and Arthur Vinke combining for a three-hitter, North beat the Bucs convincingly 12-2 as their bats exploded for 16 hits in five innings.

Smith, with a dazzling array of pitches in his arsenal, who also has a cannon when behind the plate, struck out five while leading the offensive charge by going three for three with a home run and walk.

Several North players had a multiple hits game.

Jared Cantu had three hits, a stolen base, and two RBIs.

Kyle Perkins had three hits including a double and two RBIs.  Evan Waddell had 3 hits with a double and RBI.

Josh Pawlowski had a long triple to right that knocked in two runs.

Any suspense in the cross-town rivalry was shattered in the top of the first when North roughed up Belvidere with seven consecutive hits and five runs.

With sophomore Brady Hauser providing some ESPN clips in the field, the only other highlight for the Bucs came in the bottom of the third when Smith’s no-hitter and shutout went “South” on a sharp single by Austin Revolinski and long home run to left-center by Anthony Cottichio.

Vinke relieved Smith in the bottom of the fourth and threw two no-hit innings that were punctuated by striking out the side in the bottom of the fifth to end the game.