Posted: June 26, 2009 |(0) Comments

The Brookfield Central and Homestead baseball teams are used to extensive and challenging non-conference schedules to get themselves ready for the post-season.

They also use them to check out upcoming talent.

And the Lancers got major contributions from newcomers Brad Leachy and Zach Teuscher in rallying past a talented but erratic host Highlander squad Friday night, 9-4.

The sophomore Leachy pitched five effective innings in earning the win, while the junior Teuscher ripped a linedrive two-run single off the glove of Highlander shortstop Casey Barnes in the fifth to break a 4-4 tie and give the Lancers the lead for good.

It was Teuscher's first hit of the season.

"Brad (Leachy) has been real consistent all season," Lancer coach Jeff Bigler said. "He pounds the strike zone and never gives anyone anything easy to hit. And how about Zach Teuscher? He was the only lefty in our line-up today and he comes up with a big hit."

The win improved the Lancers to 22-4 overall while the Highlanders fell to 13-5.

Homestead coach Ernie Millard, whose team also dropped a frustrating and messy 15-11 decision to North Shore rival Cedarburg earlier this week, was clearly troubled by an effort that was marred by four errors and eight walks.

"It's been the same little things that have been letting us down lately," he said. "Walking guys, swinging at pitches out of the zone. That's a very good team we played there. One you want to measure yourself against at the end of the year. We're not there yet, but hopefully we will be."

The game had an unusual schedule life. It was originally slated for Friday, but when Homestead's North Shore tilt with Nicolet was postponed by wet grounds on Monday, it was rescheduled for Friday taking the place of the Central game.

But when Nicolet officials called Millard a couple of days ago and told him that the Knights would be short of players Friday, that game was rescheduled yet again for July 14.

That situation put the Central-Homestead game back on the slate again at its original time and place.

So on a beautiful night at Rennicke Field in Mequon, the Lancers struck first in the second as they took advantage of two walks by starter and loser Brady Bingham and an error to score the game's first run. The Lancers expanded that in the third when shortstop Ricky Leachy roped a solo home run down the rightfield line to lead off the inning. Later that frame, senior first baseman Matt Upson notched an RBI single to make it 3-0.

But in the fourth, the Highlanders exploded for all of their runs as Mark Schlifske golfed a two-run double to leftcenter, Geoff Hilt had an RBI groundout and Andrew Holtorf hit an RBI double of his own to make it 4-3 Homestead.

However, the good times were not to last for the Highlanders, as in the fifth, a walk, a squib of an infield hit and two errors tied the score at 4-4. After Bingham got a strikeout for the second out, Teuscher got his chance in the spotlight and rose to the occasion to give Central a lead it wouldn't relinquish.

The younger Leachy then got out of a two-on jam in the Highlander half of the fifth with a pop-out and a strikeout before giving way to junior Ryan Hinz in the sixth. Upson then put the game out of reach with a two-run homer in the sixth, again down the rightfield line.

Bigler, whose underclassmen dominated line-up is fighting tooth and nail with Brookfield East and Menomonee Falls for Greater Metro Conference North Division honors, remained impressed with his squad after yet another good-looking victory.

"If you had told me that we'd come even close to this kind of record with all that we lost to graduation last year, I'd be amazed," he said. "But we can't be too impressed with ourselves just yet. We still have the toughest part of our schedule coming up yet and we have to remain focused if we want to come out ahead."

Central will visit non-conference opponent Germantown in an 11 a.m. contest Saturday.

Meanwhile, Millard will continue to look for wheat among the chaf as his team struggles for consistency.

"We still have a lot of work to do," he said. "I believe we have all the pieces in place. We've just have to get it done."

The Highlanders will entertain defending state champion Marquette in another non-league game back at Rennicke at 8 p.m. Saturday.