By Drake Skleba
For the Bugle
In 2018, Plainfield Central’s varsity baseball team won 25 games and finished in the Top 25, in the state of Illinois. In 2019, the Wildcats returned almost everyone for head coach John Rosner, from the state-ranked 2018 Wildcats.
The Wildcats opened up their 2019 campaign with nine consecutive victories, before losing to Lockport in the 2019 WJOL/Don Ladas Memorial Baseball Tournament Championship Game.
The dreaded injury bug struck the Wildcats during the WJOL tourney and has continued to decimate the once almost unbeatable Wildcats. Losers of seven of their last 11 games, Plainfield Central (14-8, 3-5) headed to Joliet to take on the Southwest Prairie Conference leaders from Plainfield South (17-4, 6-2) on Wednesday.
Zach Rana — to say the 6-foot senior right-handed pitcher Rana (3-4) pounded the strike zone against Plainfield South, would be an understatement. Rana fired 97 pitches at the Cougars, 70 of them for strikes and went on to fire a six-hitter at the SPC leaders. Rana struck out seven and did not walk a batter.
“It was nice to beat South after they beat us on Monday,” Rana said. “I was throwing the ball harder than I normally do. A great mound here to pitch on and we had a lot of fans here today and I had a lot of fun.”
The Wildcats picked up an unearned run in the first inning against Plainfield South starting pitcher Austin Richardson (4-2). With two outs, the red-hot Jac Lindish (2-for-4, 2 2B, RBI) ripped a booming double to left. Right fielder Anthony Noble walked and shortstop Charlie Bischoff ripped a single to center. When the Cougar centerfielder booted the ball, Lindish streaked home with the first run of the game.
In the Plainfield South second inning, Cougar third baseman Zach Pawlak (2-for-3, 2B), doubled and scored on an RBI single from Tony Mosher (2-for-3, 2B, RBI), tying the game at one.
“We just have to tip our hat to Rana, “ Mosher said. “He pounded the strike zone all day on us and was very difficult to hit. I have been struggling as of late and I was happy to hit the ball hard all day.”
Two Cougar errors in the Plainfield Central top of the third, led to a pair of unearned runs for the victorious Wildcats. Lindish ripped his second double of the game, driving home leadoffman Jake Donahue who had reached on an error. Lindish scored to make it 3-1 Cats, when Bischoff wreached on another Cougar miscue.
“We really came out today with a lot of energy,” Lindish said. “Zach’s performance on the mound was outstanding. He really pounded the strike zone. I have been really squaring the ball up and hitting it at people, for outs. After my hot start to the season, things have been evening out for me. That’s a lesson in life though. I just went out today and tried to hit the ball hard to all to all parts on the field. I’m confident that the hits will start falling again.”
In the top of the fifth, Bischoff ( 2-for-4, 2B, RBI) drove home a huge insurance run, with a double scoring Noble for a 4-1 Wildcat lead.
“We made a couple of mistakes that cost us against South on Monday,” Bischoff said. “Rana threw a gem for us and I was fortunate to come through with some clutch two out hits. Jac’s double in the first inning, after the first two batters of the game struck out, turned the momentum of the game in our favor. I was able to follow with the clutch hit.”
In the bottom of the seventh with one out, Mosher ripped a double off Rana and Zach Pawlak who walked bringing the tying run to the plate for the Cougars. Rana, picked up the second out of the inning on a force out at second and then finished off his masterpiece in style with his seventh punch-out of the game.
For Plainfield South, the Cougars will host the second-place Wolves of Oswego East (12-5, 5-2) on Thursday.
“We are not good enough to win, when we give them three runs, in the first three innings, as we did today,“ Plainfield South head coach Phil Bodine said. “Zach Rana was outstanding for Plainfield Central today and we were hoping we could get him out, due the pitch-count rule. We would have liked to get one batter, against their bullpen, with the tying run at the plate, in the bottom of the seventh.”
Plainfield Central will travel to Joliet Central (8-11, 2-6) in SPC action on Thursday.
“Zach Rana was something else for us tonight,” Rosner said. “70 strikes among his 97 pitches tonight. for a much-needed win for us. Very happy how aggressive we came, out both offensively and on defense today. We came up with some great clutch hits from Charlie and Jac.”
“We have lost our top two pitchers to injury and that made Zach’s performance extra-special, for us tonight. Don’t write us off just yet. We have a lot of baseball yet to be played and we will be alright.”
SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE STANDINGS through games of 4/24
Plainfield South 17-5 6-2
Oswego East 12-5 5-2
Oswego 11-7 5-2
Plainfield North 8-7-1 5-2
Plainfield East 14-6 5-3
Joliet West 11-10 3-4
Plainfield Central 14-8 3-5
Romeoville 5-14-1 2-5
Joliet Central 8-11 2-6
Minooka 6-11-1 2-6