By Drake Skleba
For the Bugle
78 Degrees. A beautiful sunset in Joliet.
And No. 1 Joliet Catholic Academy baseball, under the lights, on the new turf, at Route 66 Stadium.
The home of the Joliet Slammers, never looked more awesome, than with it’s brand-new field turf, and a big crowd, to watch the East Suburban Catholic Conference battle, between the Hilltoppers and their guests, the Roadrunners from Nazareth Academy.
After an inning an a half, the Hilltoppers (19-3, 9-0) had the Roadrunners right where they wanted them. Trailing 1-0. For the fourth consecutive game, JCA would rally to a 5-3 victory, their 13th consecutive win.
“It has really been great for us to have this streak, during a period where we have been playing everyday, due to the bad weather, this spring,” Joliet Catholic Academy head coach Jared Voss said. “We have been playing great baseball and everybody on the team has been stepping up for us.”
In the bottom of the second inning, the Hilltoppers used the Route 66 Stadium lights to tie the game at 1-1.
Starting and winning pitcher Greg Ziegler, led off with an infield double, when the Roadrunner second baseman, lost his pop up in the lights. With two outs, Hilltopper first baseman Max Cullen, came through with a clutch???, two-out RBI single, scoring the tying run. Cullen’s infield pop up, was once again lost in the lights, this time by the Roadrunner third baseman.
The Hilltoppers broke open the game with a four-run, fourth inning to go up 5-1. The red-hot Tony Fleischauer, led off the inning with a single, Cullen reached on an error and second baseman Justin Conant, laid down a perfect-bunt single, to load the bases.
The play of the game was next.
Hilltopper No. 9 hitter, Christian Knapczyk, ripped a laser, that went over the Roadrunners left fielder, scoring Fleischauer and Cullen, for a 3-1 Hilltopper lead.
“I went up to the plate with the idea to just get the ball in play,” Knapczyk said. “It felt great to see it go over the left fielder’s head and get the two big runs home for us.”
Leadoff man Aidan Tyrell would pick up an RBI on a groundout, to close out scoring in the inning.
Nazareth (11-9-1, 3-6) would pickup runs in the fifth and sixth innings, to close to within 5-3 against Ziegler (2-1). Ziegler would allow two earned runs on just five hits, with eight strikeouts for his game-winning performance.
“I started out slowly but I really ended up throwing the ball well tonight,” Ziegler said. “My fastball was really working and was my best pitch.”
In the seventh, JCA head coach Jared Voss, would summon Dan Dominguez, to nail down the save for Ziegler.
With the final two outs via strikeout and Dominguez, had his third save of the game and the Hilltoppers had won for the 13th consecutive time.
“I had to bounce back after a bad last-outing at Lincoln-Way Central,” Dominguez said. “I went out and threw the ball well tonight to nail down my third save of the season.”
SPC REPORT
Plainfield South 5 Joliet Central 1
The Cougars (15-3, 10-0) rallied past the Steelmen (10-12, 0-10) to set up huge SPC showdown at Plainfield East (20-2, 9-1) on Tuesday. Senior Trey Ricko, went the distance to improve to 5-0 on the mound, allowing just five hits, with 11 punch-outs. Cougar leadoff man Tony Mosher, drove home a pair of Cougars runs and junior catcher Justin McGuigan, chipped in with two more hits,
Plainfield East 10 Joliet West 7
The Bengals (20-2, 9-1) held off the Tigers (6-15, 2-8) on Monday. Dylan Carlson and Seth Blanchard led the 11-hit Bengal attack. Carlson had three hits and drove home a pair of Bengal runs while Blanchard, continued his hot-hitting with two more hits and two ribbies. Jake Havis, chipped in with a pair of Bengal RBI.
Plainfield North 5 Oswego East 1
Brady Miler improves to 6-1 on the mound with a 10-strikeout five hitter, for the Tigers (14-5, 8-2). Miller also chipped in with a pair of hits and an RBI, while shortstop Gavin Doyle, drove home two more Tiger runs, giving him 11 RBI in the last three Tiger games. Miller’s battery mate catcher Greg Budig, had a pair of hits for the red-hot Tigers.
Plainfield Central 11 Minooka 10
The Wildcats (14-8, 5-5) hung on and beat the defending SPC champion Indians, in Plainfield on Monday. Jake Donahue continued his assault on the baseball, with four more hits for the Wildcats. Jack Lindish drove home two big runs for Central.
Minooka (9-8, 4-6) was led by Cherokee Lebeau, who drove home four Indian runs while catcher Luke Faifer ha three RBI for Minooka. Seth Gutnecht, chipped in with three Indian hits.
Oswego 12 Romeoville 1
The Spartans (3-19, 1-9) fell in five innings on Monday at home.
ESCC REPORT
Notre Dame 12 St Viator 2 (6 innings)
The rampaging Dons (11-7, 6-3) made it seven in a row crushing the Lions on Monday The Dons scored six times in the bottom of the sixth, to put this one to bed early. Jackson Kaplowitz continued his torrid hitting, with two more hits and two RBI. Kyle Schuster and Paul Bergstrom each added two ribbies, while Kevin Garcia chipped in with three hits. Nathan, not Nick, Moore, also had two hits for ND.
Joe Buikema, went the distance for the Dons, throwing a four hitter at the Lions.
Marian Catholic 12 Benet Academy 4
The Redwings (10-10, 5-4) fell to the Spartans, in Chicago Heights on Monday. Tony Snell continued his hot-hitting of late, driving home three Redwing runs.
WEST SUBURBAN GOLD
Downers Grove South 18 Willowbrook 7
The WSC Gold leaders from DGS (13-5, 9-1) opened up a commanding four game lead in the WSC Gold with the win. Nick Stacey continues to rip the cover off the baseball with another three-hit day, with four RBI for the Mustangs. Brett Riegler, stayed hot with two more ribbies and Jack Blazevich, chipped in with two more hits
INTERSTATE 8 NORTH
Lisle 4 Seneca 3
The Lions (13-8, 7-2) kept pace with Coal City in the I-8 North, with the win at Seneca on Monday. AJ Casmer pitched and hit the Lions past the Fighting Irish. Casmer, improved to 5-1 on the mound, going the distance, scattering eight hits, with nine strikeouts. Casmer, helped himself out at the plate with a pair of Lion ribbies. Jay McGrath and Connor Nigro, drove home the other two Lion runs.
Coal City 7 Westmont 4
The Sentinels (11-11, 3-8) fell to I-8 North leader Coal City (19-4, 10-1) on Monday. Mike Kokoszka, Riley Basit, Alex Marotta and Bobby Risden, drove home the four Sentinel runs. Basit had two hits.
WEST SUBURBAN SILVER
Lyons Township 15 Downers Grove North 4
The Trojans (8-12, 6-7) fell to the WSC Silver leading Lions on Monday.