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Plano Grabs Two Of Three On Diamond
Bott Reaches 100 Hit Milestone For Reapers, Extends Hitting Streak To 15 Games

By Bill Lidinsky

It seems as if Plano High School junior baseball player Brook Bott has been competing on the varsity level forever. In terms of the normal progression of a varsity athlete Bott has indeed broken the mold.

As a much heralded freshman in the Plano system, Bott started for the Reapers on the diamond in 2004 and hasn’t looked back since. Most recently in his third year at Plano, the junior reached the 100 hit plateau and is one home run shy of eclipsing the school record for round trippers.

On Thursday April 27 Bott extended his 2006 hitting streak to 13 games as the Reapers downed Aurora Christian at home by the score of 5-2. Bott’s RBI single in the first inning keyed a three-run rally that gave senior starting pitcher Nick Preston a lead he would never relinquish. Senior Will Brown and junior Josh O’Hara also added RBIs in the bottom of the first as Plano jumped out to a 3-0 advantage.

“We got off to a three-run lead and held on for a three-run victory. I was impressed with the way Preston pitched. He only gave up four hits and got his second win,” said Plano varsity baseball coach Jim Schmidt. “Nick has struggled as of late but Brook got us started in the first inning and we were able to hang on from there.”

The Reapers then took their show on the road on Saturday April 29 as they visited Hinckley-Big Rock in a non conference double-header.

In game one Plano pounded out 18 runs on 15 hits as they overwhelmed the Royals 18-1. Bott kept his hitting streak alive with two hits and two RBIs including a two-run homer in the second inning that sparked a five-run Reaper rally which made the score 10-0 after two innings.

Plano would add five more runs in the top of the third along with a pair in the fourth and one in the fifth as they went on to win by 17. Junior Ben Heller recorded his fourth victory of the year on the mound and the Reapers were optimistic going for the sweep in game two. Senior’s Will Brown and Alex Jensen added four and three RBIs respectively.

“In game one we pounded Hinckley. But in the second game it was the Nolan Craig show for the Royals,” Schmidt said. “He’s a sophomore pitcher, but we just couldn’t seem to be able to string the hits together that we needed to be victorious.”

Craig scattered a mere four Plano hits while going the distance to give the Royals a 3-1 victory in game two. Bott continued his hitting streak at 15 games with the lone Reaper RBI in the first inning. But Plano was unable to solve the mastery of Craig.

“Craig did a great job against us but unlike game one we just couldn’t hit the ball,”
Schmidt said.

Senior Shawn Gwilt (1-2) was the hard luck loser on the mound for the Reapers allowing only three runs on seven hits in a game that saw very few Plano highlights besides Bott’s 100th hit.

“I don’t quite remember my first hit, but I do remember a few hits I had playing my freshman year when my brother was a senior,” Bott said. “We had back to back homers in one game and I’ll always remember that.”

Bott’s fourth home run of the season against H-BR gave him 16 varsity career round trippers just one shy of the all time Plano record of 17, a mark he’ll surely break sooner than later.

“I’m only one home run away from tying the school record and about 30 hits shy of breaking the mark for career hits,” Bott said. “Those are two things I would really like to accomplish along with winning a regional championship with my teammates.”

Plano overall record now stands at 11-13. They also maintain a 3-4 mark in the Interstate Eight Conference. The Reapers hosted I-8 foe Lisle on Tuesday before traveling to the Lions home field on Wednesday for game two of the home-and-home series.

On Thursday Plano will welcome Dwight to town and then will hit the road on Friday to visit the Trojans.

The Reapers are also scheduled to host a non conference double-header on Saturday at 10a.m. versus Genoa-Kingston before jumping back into I-8 play on Monday at home against Coal City. All in all a very busy week ahead for Plano.

“Last year we started off just like we are now going about 500 before we put a run together at the end of the season,” Bott said. “Hopefully we can do it again this year. I think our schedule is favorable for us to accomplish that. We just need to be more consistent.”

On Friday April 28 the IHSA announced the pairing for the upcoming Class A regional playoffs that are set to start on May 16. Plano will host one of four regionals that encompasses 21 teams within the Seneca Sectional Complex. Plano is the twelfth seed and will open play on the 16th versus 16 seeded Earlville.

The winner will advance to the regional semifinals to take on top seed Reed-Custer on May 17. The other semifinal within the regional pits eighth seed Indian Creek versus tenth seeded Somonauk on May 18. The Plano regional final will conclude on Saturday May 20 with the championship matchup at 11a.m.
Last season the Reapers were defeated by Stillman Valley in the regional final so they’re looking to take the next step toward success this year.

“We haven’t been able to get over the hump so far this season. We’ve gotten back to 500 a couple of times but we’ve lost some key games we should’ve won that we didn’t last year,” Schmidt said. “Hopefully we can string some wins together over this next week and gain some momentum as we approach regionals on our home field.”

Game #1 on Top Game #2 Down Below(Pan Down)