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MIKE EAGAN of Hazelwood Central had a big week at the plate and on the mound for the Hawks. He drove in runs and scored in  games against North Coounty teams. On the mound he struck out 7 U. City batters and 11 McCluer North players.                     Jim Wieners photos
(Posted April 5, 2011)
By Jim Wieners
Two innings became the difference as University City knocked Hazelwood Central out of the ranks of the undefeated in prep baseball, April 2.
University City defeated Hazelwood Central, 8-3, in the championship game of the North County Tournament. The championship game as was the semifinal games were played at Hazelwood East. It came a day after U. City ended a 20-year drought against Eureka with a 16-15 win.
University City scored five runs in the fourth inning and added three more in the fifth to win the game. In the fourth inning Kevin Phillips, Jake Mavropoulos and William Evans each doubled while Brandon Evans added a two-run single. In the fifth Phillips added a three run homer that deceptively looked as if the ball bounced over the temporary chain-link fence but the Hazelwood Central outfielders reportedly told the umpire they saw the ball fly over the fence.
“It was one of those things,” Hazelwood Central head coach Van Vanatta said. “They found some holes (and) the heart of their lineup got us.”
U. City pitching struck out nine Hazelwood Central batters with their starter (and     winning pitcher) Matt Looby struck out six.
Hazelwood Central was held to five hits including four singles. The only extra base hit was in the third inning on a triple by Matt Dezort, who scored two runs. Mike Eagan was the losing pitcher despite the face that he struck out seven U. City batters but was one of three Central batters to drive in a run.“I’m still so proud of the kids.” Vanatta said.
Earlier in the day Hazelwood Central won the North semifinal game over Hazelwood East, 20-2 (unofficially) at East. It was the second time in three days Hazelwood Central defeated Hazelwood East. On March 31 Hazelwood Central won 11-1 in a Suburban North Conference game at Central that was called in the fifth inning due to the 10-run rule. In the March 31 game Dezort tripled and drove in three runs, Jonathan Harris scored three times, Derek Watson and Dajuan Maul each drove in two while Eagan scored twice.
Hazelwood Central opened the North County Tournament on March 28 with a 4-0 home shut out of Lutheran North. Dezort scored twice, homered and drove in two runs while Harris struck out 10 in five innings of pitching. Harris and Kurtis Haus combined for a no-hitter.
Hazelwood Central played six games in five days, only taking off March 30. On March 29 Hazelwood Central shut out McCluer North 2-0 at home while on April 1 Central won at McCluer, 6-2.
Against McCluer North Eagan struck out 11 while Dezort and Jamal Hughes each scored a run. Against McCluer Central scored two runs in the sixth inning to over come a 2-1 McCluer lead and Hazelwood Central added insurance with three more runs in the seventh. Dezort doubled and scored three times, Eagan drove in two and Harris struck out nine.
“Our pitching staff kept us in games,” said Vanatta. “This pitching staff and our defense has been solid Start producing and good things happen.” Hazelwood Central was at Suburban North rival Hazelwood West April 5 then has 4 p.m. home Suburban North home games April 7 against Riverview Gardens and April 12 against Pattonville
LUTHERAN NORTH took the North County Tournament consolation title after their loss to Hazelwood Central. On April 2 at McCluer Lutheran North defeated Riverview Gardens, 21-1, by scoring 10 runs in the fifth inning to end the game and LHSH defeated Trinity Catholic, 11-7. Prior to the tournament LHSN won at home over Trinity, 8-7 on March 21, lost March 24 at home to Lutheran St. Charles County, 7-5, and won the ABC League opener March 29 over Principia, 10-0.
Against Riverview Gardens Devon Haynes, Trey Johnson, C.J. Laws and Dan Zimmerman each scored three runs while Gregg Hardnett drove in three. In the April 2 game against Trinity Lutheran North over came a 4-1 Trinity lead by scoring five runs in the third and added three in the fourth. Tanner Branneky doubled twice, homered and drove in four runs, Haynes doubled twice and scored three times, Tyler Branneky homered, scored twice and drove in three and Hardnett added three more runs.

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