Morgan Park’s James Davison just had a feeling.
After falling short in the Public League championship last season, the speedy outfielder knew the Mustangs would be back.
And Friday at Wrigley Field in the Public League semifinals, Morgan Park made sure of it, defeating Young 3-1 in front of a student-heavy Young crowd.
“It feels good, and I knew from Day 1 in winter practices that we were going to come back with all our hard work and effort,” Davison said. “All our seniors, all our younger players, I’m just excited for my team right now.”
Morgan Park improved to 21-7 and will face the Taft/Kenwood winner at 1 p.m. Saturday at Curtis Granderson Stadium at UIC for the championship. Morgan Park coach Ernest Radcliffe says the title would be the first in program history.
The Mustangs enter the championship game behind a strong outing on the mound from sophomore southpaw Christian Bullock, who allowed just four walks and three hits with seven strikeouts in a complete-game performance.
Intimidated pitching at Wrigley Field? Far from it for Bullock.
“It was a dream come true,” Bullock said with a smile.
Having given up a run in the second, Bullock pitched in and around trouble late, stranding two runners in the fourth and sixth before pitching a 1-2-3 seventh.
“My fastball, I’ve been going to it all year,” Bullock said. “It’s my go-to pitch, and it was working today. I’m trying to throw strikes because I know they can’t hit me out of the ballpark. I know I have a good defense.”
Bullock’s offense scored all three runs in the fourth, Davison ripping a triple down the right-field line to lead off the inning. He came home on Lavar Reed’s fielder’s choice grounder, beating the tag.
Jamal Martin’s RBI single to shallow center brought Reed home to put Morgan Park up 2-1, courtesy runner Kenyon Turner scoring on a Young outfield error off Christian Lipscomb’s hit three batters later.
“Everyone tells me just to set the table, and they’re going to eat,” Davison said. “My job is to get on base and luckily I hit a triple down the line. I was just trying to bring the energy to my teammates and lead my team.”
Ben Barclay had an RBI single for Young (23-10), Travis Hank scoring the Dolphins’ lone run.
Jeff Fischer threw 4 2/3 innings for Young, allowing three runs on four hits and three strikeouts. Hank threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief.
