Even in Defeat, L-W East Showed Its Resiliency

Many people didn't even give Lincoln-Way East a chance—not just in but in the postseason games before that.

Many believed Lincoln-Way North was too big and powerful with the bats to be beaten, but the Griffins won via Mark Chemello's stellar pitching.

Then it was Sandburg, a team that had beaten the Griffins twice during the regular season by a combined 24-7, more reminiscent of a football score. The Griffins showed Sandburg that folks in Frankfort dig the long ball, as they went yard three times and, led by Alec Ornelas' three RBIs, knocked off the Eagles.

On Monday, Mount Carmel came out swinging against Mark Chemello and the Griffins. Chemello appeared to be out of a jam in the second inning, with a runner on second base and two outs, but a topped ground ball right in front of the plate was mishandled by catcher Jake Hickey. The official scorer ruled the play an error, but with the amount of spin on the ball, it was a very difficult play for Hickey to make.

It proved to be especially damaging to the Griffins, as Mount Carmel’s Josh Gaal, Jason Gasser and leadoff man Chris Sujka followed with back-to-back-to-back RBI singles to put the Caravan ahead 3-0.

Lincoln-Way East (25-12) could've sulked and focused on what could've been if Hickey had made a very good play, but the Griffins didn't. Instead, they rallied.

"To get down three runs and then put a five-spot on the board, that shows a lot about their character," Lincoln-Way East coach Paul Babcock said of his players. "A lot of enthusiasm and belief, but just couldn't hold on to it."

The Griffins’ Matt Rosenberer and Dan Huizinga opened the bottom of the second inning with singles. After Joe Piersanti’s groundout, Hickey made it a 3-1 game with an RBI double. Designated hitter Zach Jones then tied the game with a two-run home run to left.

"We have an incredible team and always pick each other up," Jones said. "We have our ups and downs, but we have resiliency to bounce back and finish games."

Mount Carmel (32-7) pushed ahead 6-5 in the top of the third inning. Kentucky recruit Jeff Boehm and Sam Kint singled to start the frame, winning pitcher Tyler Laurisch doubled home a run and the Caravan added the tying and go-ahead runs on a pair of groundouts.

The lead wouldn't last very long though, as the Griffins rallied for two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to pull ahead 7-6. Piersanti singled and Hickey walked to open the inning. After Laurisch fanned Jones, he induced what appeared to be a routine double play ball, but his throw to second pulled shortstop Jerry Houston off the bag and loaded the bases. Bobby Kosala followed with a fielder's choice RBI groundout, and the Caravan threw the ball away at first base, which allowed the go-ahead run to cross the plate.

"This team is real resilient," Babcock said. "They've been fighters all year and that's what's been most exciting about them. They never say die."

The Caravan recaptured the lead in the sixth inning on Boehm's two-run home run. Meanwhile, on the mound, Laurisch was growing stronger.
He allowed a leadoff single to Ornelas to start the fifth inning, but he wouldn't allow another baserunner as he set down the next nine he faced.

"I kept trying to locate my slider and kept missing the zone," Laurisch said. "I started to throw it at their elbows to get it for a strike and then my 12-6 (curveball) was my punchout pitch."

Laurisch had one strikeout in the first four innings but five in the final three.

"I felt a lot stronger, which is usually typical," he said. "We got some offense, which gave me more confidence, I cooled myself off, through a rag over and took control."

Chemello wasn't anywhere near as dominating as he was last Thursday when he shut out Lincoln-Way North. Working on three days’ rest after throwing less than 90 pitches in his last outing, Chemello labored through four innings.

“I don't know; sometimes it's just different teams," Babcock said. "Teams see the ball differently. I don't know. It's hard to pinpoint that one."

The Griffins concluded their season with a regional title, sectional title and a lot of great memories.

"It feels so much different after this one then when the season's ended every other year," Babcock said. "In the past it's been like, 'You've got to be kidding me,’ and this one is like. 'Uh, nuts, but boy what a ride.' Just a fun ride from start to finish.''

The resilient Griffins went into the bottom of the seventh inning trailing only 9-7. Some thought of their previous appearance at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood, earlier this year. That was when the Griffins rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh to stun St. Lawrence in the Stevie's Way Tournament Challenge.

This time it didn't happen, as Orenlas hit a bullet to second base to end the contest, Mount Carmel advancing to the state semifinals with a 9-7 win.

"We had a heck of a run, let me tell ya. It was incredible," Jones said. "I guess we never really listened to the critics during the year. We had such a deep lineup and the injuries did hurt us at the end, but to get this far and beat these teams.

“It's just going to be a shame because I'm going to miss these guys."

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