St. Charles North’s Ben Auer took on the role of lead pitcher due to unexpected team changes this spring. The North Stars lost two key pitchers: Keaton Reinke graduated early to join Northwestern football, and Matt Ritchie was sidelined by an injury. This left Auer to step in as the main pitcher. As the season progressed, Auer transitioned from a temporary option to a solid ace.
“I’ve embraced the role throughout the year,” Auer said. “Confidence has grown with each outing.” In a standout performance, Auer achieved seven strikeouts without allowing a walk. He scattered five hits and gave up only one run across five innings. This helped the North Stars defeat South Elgin 3-2 in the Class 4A St. Charles North Regional championship.
Auer also excelled at bat, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs, contributing to St. Charles North’s 11th regional title. Ty Gleason added two hits, including a double. The team’s Reed Raczka tripled and scored twice. Josh Kobylinski closed the final five batters to secure the win. The North Stars (22-12-1) will challenge Huntley (30-7) in the McHenry Sectional semifinals on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.
South Elgin’s Zacharia Barkho matched Auer’s skills on the mound, striking out seven over six innings. He conceded two earned runs on seven hits and a walk. Alex Muro added two hits and an RBI for South Elgin (24-13). Though Auer barely pitched last season, Coach Todd Genke recognized his potential. Over time, Auer proved himself as the team’s ace.
He stepped up big time,” Genke said. “He’s a true competitor.
Last year, Auer showed talents in the outfield and earned an all-conference title. This year, he approached Genke to take on more responsibility, declaring, “Coach, I’ll step up. It’s my turn.” His performance solidified his position, offering stability to the team.
“He brought us all together,” remarked Josh Kobylinski. “Having Auer as our ace let everyone settle into their roles.”
South Elgin attacked early in the game, allowing Auer to maintain a low pitch count. He stranded four runners in the first four innings and faced challenges in the fifth. Muro’s RBI single reduced the lead to 3-1, but Auer delivered a timely strikeout to limit further damage.
“It’s a great feeling,” Auer commented. “I prepared mentally and physically after Wednesday, ready for this game.” Auer watched as Kobylinski expertly completed the game, saving the victory. “Koby has been dependable all year,” Auer added. “We trust him to close.
South Elgin’s coach, David Palmer, commended his team’s effort after trailing 3-0. “We knew a couple of runs would get it done,” Palmer noted. “These are playoff expectations.”
For Auer, avenging a prior loss against South Elgin felt gratifying. “They beat us last year, so this win meant a lot,” Auer said. “We can’t wait for Wednesday’s game.”
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