By Drake Skleba
For the Bugle
Mother Nature once again made her appearance at another area baseball game this spring. This time, on Good Friday’s Southwest Prairie Conference showdown between the Cougars of Plainfield South and the host Tigers of Joliet West.
With the old gal’s friend “The Hawk- Mr. Wind” blowing straight in from center field at 35 miles-per-hour, some strange happenings occurred in Plainfield South’s 9-2 SPC victory.
Plainfield South (16-2, 5-1) was led by their sophomore left fielder, Tylor Phommachanhom. With the wind howling straight in, both the Cougars and Tigers outfielders were positioned directly behind their infielders. The wind knocked down any fly balls to the outfielders, thus both coaches had their outfielders playing very shallow.
In the bottom of the third and fourth innings, “Puma” took away singles from Tigers’ Lucas Brady and Dylan Wolff, who ripped apparent singles to left. Phommachanhom in shallow left field, fielded the “singles” with a pair of lasers to Cougar first baseman, Ryan Pawlak who retired Brady and Wolff on 7-3 putouts.
In the aforementioned Tiger bottom of the third, “Puma” used his glove to thwart the Tigers.
After Tiger starting pitcher Mason Kasprisin’s two-run double had pulled the Tigers within 3-2, Phommachanhom’s struck again. West’s Casey Chignolli laced a fly ball behind third base and Phommachanhom made a controversial diving catch for the out.
Tigers’ courtesy runner Dylan Johnstone, assuming that Chignoli had a single, streaked toward home. Having not tagged up on the catch, Johnstone was ruled out for the inning- ending double play.
The Cougars got on the board in the first inning, scoring three runs on a RBI bases-loaded base on balls by Zach Pawlak and an RBI infield single by Tony Mosher ( 2-for-4, RBI) with a successful,suicide squeeze bunt from Ryan Pawlak.
After Joliet West (10-9, 3-3) had pulled to within 3-2 after three innings, Plainfield South broke the game open with a four-spot in the top of the fourth.
With the bases loaded and one out, Blake (2-for-4, 2 RBI) attempted another suicide-squeeze bunt. Dylan Miller at third, broke on the pitch for the plate and slid under Tiger sophomore catcher Tyler Batusich’s tag for a steal of home. “Puma” added a steal of third on the play and Griffin Lapp swiped second for the old triple-steal for the Cougars.
“The triple-steal is something we do work on, everyday in practice,” Plainfield South head coach Phil Bodine said in jest.
Blake ripped the next pitch, for a two-run single scoring “Puma” and Lapp for a 6-2 Cougar lead. Starting and winning pitcher Justin McGuigan (4-1), followed with his second hit of the day, driving in Blake and the Cougars led 7-2.
“With the wind, I knew I just had to throw strikes and take advantage of my defense,” McGuigan said. “I was able to do that and “Puma” certainly helped me out a few times today.
“We want to continue to execute in game situations and play well, each game. I am very confident we will finish the season strong.”
“Puma” would add to his amazing day, by pitching a scoreless inning, in relief, of McGuigan (2-for-4, RBI), in the sixth.
“With the high winds today, I could play very shallow and still get back on something over my head, with the wind knocking the ball down,” Phommachanhom said. “I was in and was able to field “the singles” and still had time to make the throw to Ryan for the outs. On the diving catch, again I was shallow and that allowed me to make the catch and get the double-play.”
“With the wind, our game-plan was to play ‘small-ball” which we did to get this big win.”
Brady Shelton finished up the game for South, with a scoreless inning of relief. Blake ended his solid game with a great catch, robbing Kasprisin of a hit for the final out of the game.
“I was up at the plate to bunt in that situation,” Blake said. “I took the pitch for a ball and we scored a run and everything worked out well. With the wind, I tried to hit the ball on the ground, for the big two-run single, to break the game open.”
“Series by series. Just continue to win and we will win the SPC.”
For the Tigers on Saturday, a non-conference game with Shepard (7-9-1) awaits before a big SPC series with Oswego (8-7, 3-2) that begins at West on Monday.
“It was tough pitching out there today and when it was a little scary when the wind blew me off the mound.” Kasprisin said. “I did the best I could today and it felt good to get the two-run double, for us. We want to get a win tomorrow over Shepard and get back on our winning-ways in the SPC, against Oswego, next week .”
“Once again we did not make the plays today,” Joliet West head coach John Karczewski said. “Plainfield South is a great team and their kids were aggressive and won this game. I have known “Puma” and his family for years and after his first 7-3 play, I yelled at him, that he will never do that again. And then he does it again, in the next inning.”
For the SPC leaders from Plainfield South, an 8:45 a.m. bus ride to Maple Park, Illinois for a Saturday morning non-conference game with Kaneland (13-7). On Monday, a trip to arch rival Plainfield Central (11-7, 2-3) to begin a big SPC series.
“Puma” is a special, little player who plays big for us,” Bodine added. “Puma” has a lot to learn still about the game. He gets better each game and it is exciting to be able to see him advance and become a very special player for us at Plainfield South.”
“I have never seen on two occasions, a left fielder throw out a base runner at first base. Puma has a cannon out there.”
“We knew we had to play “little ball” today and the kids executed the game plan. Well. What’s great about this group, is they have totally bought into what we are trying to do.”
SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE CONFERENCE STANDINGS
Through games of April 18
PLAINFIELD SOUTH 16-2 5-1
OSWEGO EAST 9-5 3-2
OSWEGO 8-7 3-2
PLAINFIELD NOIRTH 5-7-1 3-2
PLAINFIELD EAST 11-7 3-3
JOLIET WEST 10-9 3-3
ROMEOVILLE 5-9-1 2-3
PLAINFIELD CENTRAL 11-7 2-4
JOLIET CENTRAL 7-9 2-4
MINOOKA 6-9-1 2-4