By Drake Skleba
For the Bugle
After the Southwest Suburban Prairie Conference leaders from Joliet West fell 10-7 to Oswego East on Tuesday afternoon, the result of the game created chaos in the mighty SPC.
Four schools including Joliet West (10-7, 3-1), Oswego East (9-4, 3-1), Oswego (8-6, 3-1) and Plainfield South (14-2, 3-1), all sit atop the SPC standings after four conference games.
On a picture-perfect Tuesday afternoon in Oswego facing Oswego East ace Collin Witzke ( 6 IP, 4R, 4H, 4ER, 5K, 2BB), Joliet West stole the first run of the game.
After one out Tyler Pransky ( 3-for-3, 3R, SB, BB) laid down a bunt single. Mark Garcia, Jr., was plunked by Witzke. Tiger catcher Ty Batusich reached base on a force-out at second, for the second out of the inning. Courtesy runner Dylan Johnstone replaced Batusich on first base.
With Mason Kasprisin at the plate, Johnstone took off for second. Johnstone beat the throw to second for a steal of second. On the throw to second, the fleet-footed Pransky broke for home from third and beat the return throw to the plate, for a steal of home and the first run of the game.
Oswego East answered with a three spot against Joliet West starter Cam Seeman.
In the top of the third, trailing 3-1, the Tigers battled back against Witzke. After one out, Lucas Brady walked. Pransky followed with a rope to right for his second hit of the game. After the-red-hot Garcia Jr. planted a Witzke fastball over the 354 foot sign on the centerfield fence, the Tigers once again led 4-3.
“On the three-run homer in the third, I followed my coaches advice and hit the well but I was surprised to see it go out,” Garcia, Jr. said. “It was my third homer of the year.”
In the bottom of the third, the Wolves went back-to-back on a two-run homer from catcher Andy Petsche and a solo-blast from Witzke. The Wolves scored five times to regain the lead at 8-4.
“This is a very small ball park,” Garcia, Jr. added. “A couple of fly balls that went out of here really hurt our pitcher.”
The Wolves extended their lead to 10-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh. Witzke was replaced on the mound by senior Connor Gill. Gill retired the first two Tiger batters.
The Tigers would not go easily.
Pransky ripped a single to center. Garcia,Jr. and Batusich walked to load the bases. Mason Kasprisin would drove home Pransky and Garcia with a clutch, two-out, two run single. Casey Chignoli made it 10-7 with another clutch RBI single. Gill recovered to strike out the last Tiger of the game.
“Great intensity at the plate for us in the seventh,” Pransky said. “I kept it real simple at the plate. Stayed ahead in the count and that was the key to my success today.”
“We were just one swing, from tying this game up,” Joliet West head coach John Karczewski said. “We will not back down to anyone. We didn’t make a play and it cost us four runs and this game. We have to make the fundamental plays to be successful. Another big game tomorrow at Plainfield South.”
The Tigers will open up their crucial early-season SPC series at Plainfield South on Wednesday. The two squads will meet again on Thursday, in Joliet.
SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE CONFERENCE STANDINGS
Through games of April 16
PLAINFIELD SOUTH 14-2 3-1
OSWEGO EAST 9-4 3-1
JOLIET WEST 10-7 3-1
OSWEGO 8-6 3-1
PLAINFIELD EAST 10-5 2-2
PLAINFIELD NORTH 5-7-1 2-2
PLAINFIELD CENTRAL 10-6 1-3
JOLIET CENTRAL 6-8 1-3
MINOOKA 5-8-1 1-3
ROMOEOVILLE 4-10-1 1-3