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Chris Kuchta

Baseball Chris Kuchta

“The Pinuelas Game” Vaults PSC to Doubleheader Sweep Over Lake County

Sophomore Catcher's 12-RBI Effort Sets the Pace

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, Ill. --- When MLB hall of fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg recorded seven RBIs in a legendary win over the St. Louis Cardinals on June 23, 1984, the game was forever dubbed "The Sandberg Game."
 
And while the stakes weren't as high Monday afternoon for the Prairie State baseball team as they were for the Cubs on that fateful Saturday 42 years ago, sophomore catcher Juan Pinuelas did Sandberg two better.
 
The 6-foot-2, rifle-armed backstop produced one of the most memorable offensive performances in Prairie State baseball history when he delivered nine RBI in a 21-12 victory over Skyway Conference foe Lake County in the second game of a league doubleheader at the Pioneer Sports Complex.
 
Pinuelas also did damage in Game 1, plating an additional three runs in an 11-1 triumph. 
 
The wins pushed PSC's overall mark to 11-15 overall and 2-0 in Skyway action.
 
In all, Pinuelas went 5-for-10 on the afternoon with a pair of home runs and 12 RBI.
 
On the season, Pineulas is hitting .348 with a trio of home runs and 18 RBI.
 
The Pioneers collected 29 hits over the two games.
 
Thanks in part to a relentless offensive attack throughout both games, freshman starting pitcher Alex Kvasnicka (Marian Catholic H.S.) was in turn able to go on the attack in the opener.
 
The 6-foot-2 righthander went the full five innings, allowing a run on four scattered hits while walking one and striking out three.  Kvasnicka needed just 53 pitches to accomplish the task.
 
At the plate, four PSC hitters collected multiple hits as Pinuelas (2-for-4, 3 RBI, double), sophomore Jesser Contreras (The Vine Christian Academy),(2-for-4, RBI, run), freshman Ayden Van Kuiken (Illiana Christian H.S.), (2-for-3, RBI, 2 runs) and freshman Ian Bando (Colegio Country Kids, BRAZIL), (2-for-2, run, RBI, walk).
Sophomore shortstop Nuno Borges (Colegio Country Kids, BRAZIL) also launched his third long ball of the campaign in the bottom of the fifth.  Freshman Marcus Caradine (Munster H.S.) also blasted a two-run homer. 
 
PSC pounded out 16 hits in the nightcap, highlighted by Pinuelas' two bombs and a 4-for-5, two-RBI showing from Borges.   
 
Pinuelas went 3-for-6 in Game 2 and delivered his typical rock-steady effort behind the plate.
 
Bando also posted a big effort in the second game, going 4-for-4 with an RBI.
 
The Pioneers will be back in action Wednesday when they travel to Elgin for a Skyway double dip with the Spartans. 
 
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Players Mentioned

Nuno Borges

#18 Nuno Borges

INF
5' 9"
Sophomore
Jesser Contreras

#2 Jesser Contreras

C/INF
5' 9"
Sophomore
Juan Pinuelas

#23 Juan Pinuelas

C/OF
6' 3"
Sophomore
Alex Kvasnicka

#12 Alex Kvasnicka

INF
6' 2"
Freshman
Ian Bando

#4 Ian Bando

OF
5' 8"
Freshman
Ayden Van Kuiken

#39 Ayden Van Kuiken

INF
6' 1"
Freshman
Marcus Caradine

#5 Marcus Caradine

INF
5' 9"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Nuno Borges

#18 Nuno Borges

5' 9"
Sophomore
INF
Jesser Contreras

#2 Jesser Contreras

5' 9"
Sophomore
C/INF
Juan Pinuelas

#23 Juan Pinuelas

6' 3"
Sophomore
C/OF
Alex Kvasnicka

#12 Alex Kvasnicka

6' 2"
Freshman
INF
Ian Bando

#4 Ian Bando

5' 8"
Freshman
OF
Ayden Van Kuiken

#39 Ayden Van Kuiken

6' 1"
Freshman
INF
Marcus Caradine

#5 Marcus Caradine

5' 9"
Freshman
INF

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