High School Baseball
It’s now appropriate to refer to Jackson Stulas, Mike Madej, Zack Pych and Jim Jeffries as Providence’s Golden Generation. The four seniors have etched their names into the history books.
Lemont’s Ryan Sublette didn’t surrender another run, pitched a complete game and struck out a career-high 14. He allowed two hits and walked four.
The state semifinals on Friday were all about waiting. Numerous rain delays resulted in all four games starting late. Saturday was an entirely different story.
Saturday at Silver Cross Field in Joliet two Catholic League Blue teams played a Class 4A state title game for the ages.
Brent Villasenor pitched a complete-game shutout to lead the Celtics to a 1-0 win over Oak Park-River Forest in the second Class 4A state semifinal at Silver Cross Field in Joliet Friday.
The Catholic Blue is one of the toughest baseball conferences in the country. So it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that Mount Carmel freshman Alek Thomas is a special player. He hit .337 and bashed seven homers this season.
Morgan Park arrived in Joliet with dreams of ending the Public League’s 42 year drought. There hasn’t been a baseball state championship team from the Public League since Hubbard won it in 1973. The last Public League team to play for the title was Fenger in 1986.
Donald Kelly was sensational Friday in Joliet. The senior led Nazareth to a 2-1 win over St. Francis in a Class 3A state semifinal game.
The full list of Catholic League All-Conference players.
Simeon senior Jamary McKinney wasn’t ready to give the ball up when Wolverines coach LeRoy Franklin came to the mound in the sixth inning of the city title game Saturday at UIC’s Curtis Granderson Stadium.
Mount Carmel remains in the top spot as the regular season winds down.
There are certain moments that can help determine whether a coach keeps a pitcher in a baseball game when he is struggling with his command.
Matt Ryan hasn’t pitched much this season. Prior to a relief appearance on Saturday against Brother Rice, St. Rita’s senior left-hander hadn’t pitched in weeks.
Prairie Ridge baseball coach Glen Pecoraro stood face to face with the home plate umpire, arguing his case.
Jack Burton is Naperville Central’s barometer. Redhawks coach Roger Strausberger calls Burton his team’s “energy.” When Burton plays well Central seems to play well.
Batavia’s Evan Acosta kept stacking “Ks” Tuesday, but St. Charles North’s Cory Wright took the “W.”
Sam Janus is a self-aware player. With the presence of Western Michigan recruit Jack Szott to lead the staff, Janus has become quite comfortable in his role as Metea Valley’s No. 2 starter.
St. Rita dropped from No. 8 to No. 14 in Max Preps national baseball rankings.
If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again. Ryan Eiermann is taking that lesson to heart as of late for Naperville Central.
Yorkville rebounded from its sweep at the hands of Kaneland two weeks ago with a Northern Illinois Big 12 East sweep of DeKalb this week, but it was hardly conventional.