By Drake Skleba
For the Bugle
In another showdown SPC battle, between second-place Oswego East (11-5, 6-2) and the hosts from Plainfield South (13-2, 8-0, ) on Wednesday, the guests from Oswego had pulled within 4-3. Two outs. The tying run at first. In the top of the seventh.
On the mound for South, was the Cougar closer, Griffin Lapp. In the batter’s box for the Wolves, was the dangerous Jalen Avery.
Picking up his fifth save of the season, Lapp, blew a fastball by Avery for strike three and the ninth consecutive Cougar win, was in the books.
“It felt great to fire my fastball by Avery, for the final out of the game,” Lapp said. “I had no command of my pitches and felt fortunate to nail down the save, for Ryan (Harty).
The senior lefty Harty, improved to 5-0 on the season, as Plainfield South, stayed undefeated against Illinois opponents in 2018. The Cougars lost to Hueytown (Ala) and Gibson County (Tn), in their Spring Trip last month, in beautiful Union City, Tennessee.
Harty, allowed one earned run and six hits, in his solid 5 2/3 innings of work on the mound. Harty struck out six and walked three.
“We are all fortunate to have a closer like Griffin (Lapp),” Harty said. “I was having a real hard time locating my fastball, late in the game. It was the reason I had to get relief from Griffin. It feels great to be 5-0 on the mound and 13-2 and in first place in the SPC. We just want to keep it rolling.”
Trailing 1-0, as the game headed to the Cougar half of the fourth, with a little help from the Wolves, the Cougars would take the lead.
Cougar junior catcher Justin McGuigan, would reach on the first of three Wolves’ miscues.
Connor Blake would rip an RBI single to right, scoring McGuigan, with the tying run. Blake would go to second, on an errant throw.
Lapp laid down a perfect bunt and when Oswego East starting and losing pitcher Shane Schatz (4-2), fired the ball over his first baseman’s head, Blake would score the lead run.
The play of the game was next.
With two strikes, Cougar sophomore third baseman, Zach Pawlak, ripped a clutch, two-run single, increasing the Cougar lead to 4-1.
“I went to the plate just trying to get a fly ball, to get one run in,” Pawlak said. “I got a pitch up and ripped it into right center.”
Lapp replaced Harty, with two out in the sixth and the Wolves picked up another unearned run to pull within 4-2.
The third Cougar error of the game, in the seventh, allowed Oswego East, to pull within 4-3, before the Cougar fireman, Lapp, put the fire out.
“We have such great chemistry on this team,” Lapp added. “We want to come out here tomorrow and Monday and take care of business against Joliet Central.”
“It wasn’t pretty. But it’s a win. And we will take it,” Plainfield South head coach Phil Bodine said. “We beat a real good pitcher and that’s a real good team over there. Under normal circumstances, Ryan’s (Harty) performance, would have been considered very good. But after Austin’s (Richardson) no-hitter and Trey (Ricko’s) two-hit shutout, it doesn’t look as good as it was. Zach (Pawlak) came up with the hit of the game for us.”
SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE REPORT
Plainfield East 13 Oswego 2 (Five innings)
The Bengals (17-2, 7-1) won their seventh consecutive game, behind the red-hot hitting and pitching from Andy Hoffman. Hoffman led the 11-hit East attack with two hits and two RBI. Frank Bryan and Chris Marchione, each had a pair of Bengal ribbies. Dylan Crowder and Nick Baldassano, each chipped in with two hits.
Hoffman improved to 5-0 on the mound with a four hitter, with eight strikeouts. With the win, the Bengals stay within one game of SPC leader Plainfield South (13-2, 8-0, in the SPC
Plainfield North 18 Minooka 2
The red-hot Tigers (11-4, 6-2) scored 10 times in the fourth inning and went on to crush the host Indians on Wednesday. Shortstop Gavin Doyle, led the 16-hit Tiger attack with three hits and three RBI. Sean Tilmon, also had three hits and three ribbies. Garret Cook drove home three RBI as well. Catcher Greg Budig chipped in with a three-hit day.
Minooka falls to 8-7 overall and 3-5 in the SPC
Plainfield Central 6 Joliet Central 2
Trailing 2-0, as Wednesday’s SPC battle in Joliet , went to the top of the sixth inning, the Wildcat (12-7, 4-4), offense exploded. for three runs in the sixth and three more runs in the seventh and went on to the SPC victory.
Wildcat DH Brendan Dorsey’s, clutch, two-out, two run single, highlighted the Wildcat three-run sixth and gave the ‘Cats a lead they would not relinquish.
Jake Donahue’s two-run single, highlighted the three-run Wildcat seventh. Trevor “Swamps” Hicks (1-0), picked up the win in relief. “Swamps” slammed the door on the Steelmen, with 2 2/3 hitless innings of relief with three punch-outs.
Joliet West 7 Romeoville 0
The Tigers (6-12, 2-6), blanked the Spartans behind a four-hit, nine strikeout shutout, by Dylan Suca on Wednesday. Mark Garcia had two hits and drove three big Tiger runs while Tiger catcher Ben Rogina, picked up a pair of RBI. Brett Johnson chipped in with three hits.
Romeoville (2-18,1-7) was led by Zach Swearingin, who picked up a pair of hits for the Spartans.
INTERSTATE 8 CROSSOVERS
Lisle 7 Peotone 6
Emmett Malavia, stepped into the batters box. Peotone 6 Lisle 4. Bottom of the seventh of the Lions (11-8, 5-2) I-8 crossover game at Field No.7 in Lisle on Wednesday. Two Lions on base.
Malavia, launches a drive that soars over the Field No. 7 outfield fence, giving the Lions a
dramatic come-from behind victory. Malavia is mobbed by his teammates at home plate. Some frenzied Lion parents, were reported to have jumped into the cold waters of the nearby DuPage River, with joy.
For Malavia, it was Emmett’s fourth hit of the game, making a winner of Lion relief pitcher, Damien Guerrero. Sam Russo had a big day for the Lions with two hits and three ribbies.
INTERSTATE 8 NORTH
Sandwich 5 Westmont 3
The Sentinels (9-9, 3-6) fell to the Indians on Wednesday in Sandwich. Mike Kososzka and Riley Basit led the Sentinels with two hits and an RBI each. Caden Anderson chipped in with two hits for the Sentinels.