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DuPage River All-Conference Team

DuPage River All Conference Team

Pitchers:
Alex Soifer          Crest Hill Sports Huddle
Casey Tyrell        Whiteford Grunt Style
Christian Cantu  Whiteford Grunt Style
Brogan Crotty     Whiteford D’Arcy

Catchers: 
Nick Perez           Crest Hill Sports Huddle
Rafael Gutierrez  Belmont Lawson’s Garage

1st baseman
Ryan Catalano      Whiteford Grunt Style

2nd baseman        Channahon Citywide Mattress
Dylan Caldwell

Shortstop 
Dominic Williams   Crest Hill Sports Huddle

3rd baseman
Nathan Cronin        Crest Hill Sports Huddle

Outfielders:
Luke Nolan              Crest Hill Sports Huddle
Nick Ernst                Whiteford Grunt Style
Matthew Stark         Morris Kendall Copters
Hayden Dela Cruz.  Channahon Citywide Mattress

Manager:
Joe Marshall             Crest Hill Sports Huddle 

DuPage River Pony Tournament Champions Crest Hill Sports Huddle

Haunter’s Walk-off Single Leads Crest Hill past Whiteford, for DRC Pony Tourney Title!

“I just went up to the plate, hoping to hit the ball,” Crest Hill Sports Huddle right fielder, Joe Haunter said. 

In Friday night’s, wild 2019 Crest Hill DuPage River Conference Pony League Tournament Championship Game, Haunter, stepped to the plate in a 6-6 tie, in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Teammate John O’Brien, who had walked to leadoff the inning, represented the tourney-championship, winning run, on third. After O’Brien walked, catcher Nick Perez (2-for-4, 2B, RBI), ripped a double, with O’Brien stopping at third. 

Haunter, sent Sports Huddle Nation into a frenzy, when he ripped a line single to center, scoring O’Brien, with the Crest Hill Sports Huddle game-winner. The 7-6 DRC Pony Tournament Championship victory, over Whiteford Grunt Style, was the second consecutive DRC Pony League Tournament walk-off victory for Crest Hill. Crest Hill, walked off 8-7 against Belmont’s Lawson Garage, in Thursday night’s second DRC semifinal. 


“Initially, I was just in shock after we had won the game,” Haunter added. “Then I it was an absoulutly, awesome feeling.” 


“Whiteford is really, really good and I was surprised and happy, that we beat them tonight for the championship,” O’Brien said. “Scoring the winning runs was  just a really, really, awesome feeling. First time ever for me, winning a championship.” 

Friday night’s, tourney championship game, featured the top two squads, in the DRC. Regular season champion, Crest Hill (25-1), took home the regular season crown, by four games, over Whiteford (19-6). 


Whiteford handed Crest Hill, it’s only loss of the season 3-2. Crest Hill won the other three, regular season meetings, 7-6, 6-5 and 6-2. 

“I want to tip my hat to the Whiteford kids and their coaches,” the legendary Crest Hill manager, Joe Marshall said. “They gave us our only loss of the season and battled us in every other game. Another one-run win tonight. What a nail-biter!” 

Each team picked up an unearned run, in the top of the first inning. Whiteford All-DRC, starting pitcher, Casey Tyrell’s, safety-squeeze bunt, plated, leadoffman, All-DRC, Nick Ernst (1-for-2, 2B, 2BB, R, SB). Crest Hill, tied the game at 1-1 on an RBI single from, All DRC shortstop, Luke Nolan (2-for-4, RBI). 

Whiteford grabbed a 3-1 lead, on a clutch two-out, two-run single, from catcher, Jason Zigmont (2-for-2, BB, 3 SB)

Crest Hill, would  tie the game at three, on RBI singles from DRC Tournament MVP, Colin Sanchez (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) and O’Brien, in the bottom of the fifth. 

“It was so exciting to win the DRC Championship. We all were jumping up and down and screaming!” Sanchez said. “It was a real honor for me to be named MVP. I had a great season and really enjoyed it.”  

With the bases loaded and one out, Perez executed to perfection, a little “Marshall Small Ball” to grab a 5-3 lead. Perez laid down a perfect squeeze bunt ,scoring Nolan and when Tyrell threw wildly to first, Sanchez scored for a 5-3 Crest Hill lead. 

“We work on bunting every day,” Marshall added. “What a beautiful, picture-perfect bunt, by Nick to get us two runs. Sadly, bunting has turned into a lost-art, in baseball.”  

The never-say-die Bulldogs of Whiteford, answered with two runs in the top of the sixth, to tie the game at 5-5. A Crest Hill errant throw and a Zigmont, steal of home, pulled the Bulldogs even again. 

Crest Hill grabbed the lead on a Whiteford miscue, in the bottom of the sixth. 

After two outs, Whiteford, once again pulled even with Crest Hill, on back-to-back doubles by Jake Jean (2-for-4,2B) and Ryan Catalano (1-for-4, 2B, RBI), to tie the game, at 6-6, in the top of the seventh. 

Whiteford had run all over Crest Hill and their catcher Nick Perez. The Bulldogs had swiped nine bases and with two outs, in the top of the seventh, they tried for No. 10. 

Catalano, who had tied the game with the double, tried to steal third. Perez came up with his best throw of the night, shooting down Catalano at third, on the tag by O’Brien, to end the inning. 

“I was really nervous but I got off a good throw to get Catalano out at third, to end the seventh,” a much-relieved Perez added. “It felt amazing to see Joe’s hit win us, the championship.” 

O’Brien’s walk, Perez’s huge double and Haunter’s magic, gave the venerable Marshall, another DVC Pony League Tournament Championship.

We talked with a number of the key Crest Hill Sports Huddle Champions, after the game. 

All-DRC shortstop and the game’s winning-pitcher, Dom Williams. Williams stole five bases in the game, giving him a DRC record 75 stolen bases, for the season.

“Great to win a championship with these guys,” Williams said. 

Crest Hill ace All-DRC pitcher, Alex Soifer. Soifer, went 9-0 with a brilliant 2.12 ERA, for the 25-1 DRC champions. 

“Feels  great to win the championship,” Soifer said. 

“After last night and then again tonight, I am bushed,”  a tired but very happy Marshall concluded. 

Once again, kudo’s go out to Joe’s better-half, his wife Donna. After Wednesday night’s 1.9 inches of rain, turned historic Joe Marshall Field into Lake Marshall. Very early Thursday morning, Donna was seen bailing water from Marshall Field with a Tommy Bartlett Water Show garbage bag on her head, for her sole protection, from Mother Nature’s downpour. 

In the third place game, Morris’ Kendall Copters (8-16), scored five times in the first inning and rolled to a 7-3 win over Belmont’s Lawson Garage (9-13). 

In Thursday’s semifinals, Whiteford crushed Kendall Copters 12-2.  

As the second semifinal entered the bottom of the seventh, the Belmont kids led the DRC regular season champs, from Crest Hill, 7-6. Nolan walked to leadoff the inning. Soifer sacrificed and then the tying run came home on a Belmont miscue. Sanchez singled home, the game winner, for the heart-stopping 8-7 win. 

Crest Hill’s game-winning pitcher Jeremy Robinson, entered the game in the top of the sixth, with Belmont runner’s on second and third, with two outs. Robinson dispatched the Belmont hitter on three strikes, and retired Belmont, 1-2-3 in the seventh. Sanchez’s walk-off made a winner of Robinson and Crest Hill,  who went on to another thrilling walk-off win, tonight.

By Drake Skleba For the Bugle

Morris’ Hemmersbach Construction wins Crossroads Play-offs

Morris’ Hemmersbach Construction Pony Team goes all the way in the playoffs to take the Crossroads of Mid-America Pony League Championship. Finishing the regular season as the 7th seed, Morris would have to win three bracket games to get to the championship finals with the fourth game a chance at the championship.

The playoffs started on Monday June 18th for Morris which they played against a Troy Pony team that night. Threatening weather would only allow the teams to play through the 2nd inning before lightning in the area forced the umpires to call for a stoppage of play. They tried to wait it out and hope for a break in the weather, but the lightning continued, and the game was postponed for safety reasons until Tuesday. The game continued where it left off starting the third inning with Morris up 9-7. This was a slug fest with everyone in the batting order getting into the run scoring action. With not much defense from either team from the first inning until the fourth inning where finally pitcher Bryce Quevedo slow the opponents down. A total of 34 runs were scored in the game with Morris on top 21-13 after six innings of play when the game was finally coming to an end due to time limit after the weather delayed game.

Because of the weather delays, Morris would have to play a third consecutive day for their second-round game against the No.2 seed in the league, a team from Belmont, Joliet. Chaser Ellison started the game at pitcher and threw five strong innings before he left the game with a 4-3 lead. Morris’ Zach Berman got the scoring started by getting on with a hit in the top of the 1st and the 4th and scoring on hits both times by Matthew Stark. Morris added to its lead by scoring four more runs in the top of the sixth with the help of lead off hit by Jackson Simon and then a hit by Chaser Ellison who later scored on a two-run double by Patrick Stroup. Stroup then scored on a hit by Justin Hemmersbach to give Morris an 8-3 lead going into the bottom of the sixth. Matthew Stark pitched the sixth inning where Belmont scored a single run to make it 8-4. A quick top of the seventh for Morris lead to the bottom of the seventh with three outs left to move into the semi-finals. Tayden Thacker was given the ball on the mound to start the bottom of the seventh to close it out. An error let the first batter on base, but Thacker shut the door by striking out the next two batters with the final batter hitting one back to the mound where Thacker made an easy throw to the 1st basemen to end the game and send Morris to the semi-final round.

Game three was scheduled for Thursday June 21st which would have made Morris play on a fourth consecutive day, but mother nature intervened, and rain cancelled Thursday’s game and again on Friday. The cancelled games helped Morris rest up for whenever the playoffs would resume. The league was scrambling with multi options if the fields would not be ready even by Saturday with all the rain that had fallen the past two days. With the help of some dry weather and the efforts of the Whiteford league grounds crew, the fields were pronounced playable although there were plenty of wet and mushy spots in deep left and right center field. The semi-final games and the finals would all take place on Saturday June 23.

Morris’ semi-final game was played against St. Joe’s Joliet Pony team starting at 12:30pm with the winner playing in the finals at 7:45pm and the losing team would play at 5:30pm for 3rd place. Bryce Quevedo was the starting pitcher with both team’s pitchers having two quick innings before the scoring started. Morris struck first with three runs in the top of the third with hits by Aiden Rodeghero, a run scoring triple by Bruce Quevedo, followed by a run scoring single by Tayden Thacker who scored on a hit by Trevor Nystedt. Morris up 3-0 going into the bottom of the third where St. Joe’s picked up two runs to cut into Morris’ lead to 3-2 after three innings. Morris would get the two runs back in the top of the 4th on hits by Matthew Stark, Justin Hemmersbach who scored on fielder’s choice hits by Justin Newman and Aiden Rodeghero to give Morris a 5-2 lead. St. Joe’s being the sixth seed was not going to let Morris keep adding runs without fighting back in which they scored 2 runs in the bottom of the fourth to make the game a little tighter at 5-4. No runs in the fifth for either team. Morris adds a run in the top of the sixth to make it 6-4 and not to be outdone, St. Joe’s comes right back and scores a single run off of new Morris pitcher Chris Harris who finishes and ends the inning strong with Morris up 6-5. Morris scores their seventh run in the top of the seventh with a double by Justin Hemmersbach and a run scoring single by Justin Newman to give Morris a two-run lead going into the bottom of the seventh and 3 outs left to make it the championship game. Chris Harris took the mound in the seventh and takes care of business 1-2-3 with a ball hit back to him and an easy throw to first, a line out caught by first basemen Bryce Quevedo and then a final strikeout by Harris for the save to send Morris into the Pony League finals.

The Championship game was scheduled for a 7:45pm start and Morris had to wait for the other bracket game result to find out who their opponent would be between Channahon and Cresthill. Channahon the league’s No. 1 seed won their semi-final game to meet Morris in the Championship game. Being the lower seed, Morris was the away team and batted first. In each of the first 3 innings they put runners on base but could not get any runs on the board while Channahon scored one run in each of the first three innings to take a 3-0 lead. Chaser Ellison started at pitcher and was later replaced by Tayden Thacker in the third inning. Morris’ Trevor Nystedt and Gabe Valero lead-off the fourth inning with consecutive hits to start Morris’ rally and after a strikeout, Chaser Ellison, Zach Berman put two more hits on the board to score two runs. And before the rally ended, Matthew Stark and Justin Hemmersbach also had back to back hits to score Ellison and Berman to put Morris in the lead 4-3 after the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the fourth Channahon put men in scoring position but Morris’ defense lead by pitcher Tayden Thacker took over and the fourth inning ended with Morris up 4-3. Morris added a run in the top of the fifth with a hit by Bryce Quevedo and scoring on a hit by Nathan McTague to take a 5-3 lead. Channahon in the next two innings put a baserunner on base but could not drive in a run. Morris did not score either in the 6th or 7th inning and leading 5-3 going into the bottom of the 7th had three outs away from the championship. Channahon’s lead-off hitter made out on a ground ball to 2nd basemen Chaser Ellison. The next two batters reached base to runners on 1st and 2nd. Channahon’s fourth batter of the inning hit a ground ball to Thacker who threw to 3rd base to get the lead runner for the second out and leaving runners on 1st and 2nd base. Thacker got two quick strikes on Channahon’s next batter and on the fourth pitch popped up toward 2nd base where Chaser Ellison called for it, caught it for the third and final out and all the players from the field and bench ran together near the first base foul line and the pitcher’s mound to celebrate the championship like it was the World Series which for the 13, 14 and the one 12 year old, it was the world series. Coaches Brian Stroup, Paul Harris and Lew Berman each grab each other for a celebratory shake and hug as the season ended in a fashion none of the three would have guessed or bet on.

The trophy ceremony followed the celebration with Channahon being acknowledged as the regular season’s top finisher and then receiving their second-place trophies. They should be congratulated on their first-place finish and a great championship game. Morris was next up to receiver their Crossroads of Mid-America Pony Championship trophies. Bryce Quevedo and Tayden Thacker were voted by the Morris coaches as Co-MVP’s for their solid pitching effort in multiple games to shut down all of the higher seeded teams Morris had to beat to win the Championship. Now it was the parents turn on the field to take pictures of the kids as a team, groups and individuals holding the team trophy as if it was the Stanley Cup. The Morris kids can now bask in their win for the rest of the summer and the memories of a season ending Championship.

DPR All-Conference Team

Top (left to right): Joe Marshall – Mgr, Eric Liacone – P, Dominick Christy – P, Javier Villagomez – P, Tedy Arnold – P, Josh Cunniff – C, Tim Flanagan – IB, Nick Andreano – OF, Sam Lestina – OF

Bottom (left to right): Cade Ooms – C, Luke Selinger – 2B, Bradey Hagenbaumer – SS, Orion Hernandez – 3B, Luc Strange – OF, Tyler Marshall – OF (not pictured)

Game 1:
DuPage River 12, Alsip 0
Crest Hill’s Eric Liacone pitched the shutout striking out 4, walking 1, giving up 4 hits. 3 singles & one double .  Liacone bounced back from Saturday’s night conference championship game when he could not get out of the 2nd inning with control issues  & was near perfect tonight. After a scoreless first inning, The DuPage team scored in 4 runs in the bottom of the 2nd. Crest Hill’s Orion Hernandez drew a lead off walk & Whiteford Brady Hagenbaumer drew a walk , Channahon’s Luc Strange blasted a three run homer to give the DuPage a 3 to 0 lead & never looked back. Channahon’s Teddy Arnold drew a walk & moved to 2nd on a wild pitch & scored from third on a infield ground ball by Whiteford ‘s Dominick Christy.  In the bottom of the 3rd the DuPage team scored 5 more runs , after walks to Whiteford ‘s Javier Villagomez & Luke Sellinger, Crest Hill’s Josh Cunniff drove them in with a double. Whiteford ‘s Sam Lestina & Channahon Nick Andreano scored after a walk, a error , & two wild pitches.  In the bottom of the 4th DuPage scored 3 more runs , After two walks & one hit batter Channahon’ Tim Flanagan single in two more runs & added another on a single by Whiteford’s Javier Villagomez. In the top of the 5th Alsip had the first scoring opportunity after a single & DuPage pitcher Liacone issued his first base on balls & infield pop up, the defensive play of the game was made by Channahon’s Teddy Arnold on what appeared to be a base hit to right field Arnold threw out the runner at first & Liacone retired the next batter on a infield pop out to end Alsip’s best scoring opportunity.

Game 2
DuPage 11,
Alsip 1
In the bottom of the first the DuPage River All Conference team jumped out to a Early lead scoring first & never looking back. After the first two batters were retired starting pitcher from Whiteford Javier Villagomez singled & Crest Hill’s Josh Cunniff hit a blast to centerfield for a two run homer putting them up 2 to 0. Channahon’ Cade Ooms drew a walk, followed by a single by Channahon’s Nick Andreano , Whiteford’s Sam Lestina & Channahon’s Teddy Arnold hit back to back doubles for a 5 to 0 lead. In the second inning Whiteford’s Dominick Christy drew a lead off walk & Whiteford’s  Brady Hagenbaumer singled. Orion Hernandez laid down a perfect bunt moving the runners into scoring position & Channahon’s Luc Strange singled driving in two runs to make the score 7 to 0. In the 3rd inning Josh Cunniff drew a lead off walk & stole 2nd & 3rd & scored on a throwing error for a 8 to 0 lead. Channahon’s Tim Flannagan pitched the last two innings & after two walks a wild pitch Alsip had runners on first & third Channahon’s catcher Cade Ooms threw out the runner attempting to steal second & Alsip scored their only run of the night when the runner from third scored. Flannagan struck out the next two batters to end the inning. In the bottom of the 5th Whiteford’s Luke Sellinger lead off with a walk followed by a infield error. Josh Cunniff was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Selinger scored on a wild pitch from third & Javier Villagomez scored on a sacrifice fly by Cade Ooms. Cunniff scored on infield error for the final score of 11 to 1. The DuPage River All Conference team gave up one run in the two games & scored 23. Manager Joe Marshall said it was great to have all the kids playing together tonight. On Saturday Channahon, Crest Hill, & Whiteford had all played two games on Saturday in the conference tournament semi-Finals & Championship game. These players played four games in two days. After battling each other all season , they really enjoyed playing together & beating up on someone else. Alsip saw last night how good the players from the DuPage River Pony Conference are.  The DuPage team made no errors & threw 2 of 3 runners attempting to steal.

Whiteford’s Dale AC Wins DuPage River Play-offs

CREST HILL – On a picture-perfect Saturday night, the DuPage River Conference regular-season Pony League champions from Whiteford Dale A.C. took on Crest Hill Sports Huddle at Joe Marshall Field on the Richland School grounds.

Whiteford, under the tutelage of manager Jim Selinger, and Crest Hill Sports Huddle, under manager Joe Marshall, had met four times in the DRC regular season.

Whiteford routed Crest Hill in the first two meetings, 13-3 and 17-7. Crest Hill rolled past Whiteford, 8-2, and then evened the series with a thrilling 4-3 win in eight innings.

The rubber match between the Crest Hill Pony League powers was for the DRC tournament championship.

In a wild battle, the Bulldogs from Whiteford outlasted Crest Hill, 12-9, before a large and vocal contingent for both teams. After All-DRC Whiteford center fielder Javier Villagomez had given the Bulldogs (26-13, 15-3) leads of 7-6 and 11-7 with two-run singles in the fourth and fifth innings, the play of the game came next.

In the top of the sixth inning, Crest Hill (20-8, 11-7) had scored twice to pull within 11-9. Crest Hill had the bases loaded with one out against Whiteford’s only 13-year-old, pitcher Bradey Hagenbaumer. Crest Hill’s Nate Cronin hit a high fastball in the direction of Whiteford second baseman and starting pitcher Dom Cristy (5-0).

“Before the play, I was hoping that the ball would be hit to me. I knew what I would have to do,” Cristy said.

Cristy fielded the grounder, put the tag on Crest Hill’s Orion Hernandez
(2 for 3, three RBIs), who had reached on an RBI single, and then threw a strike to Whiteford first baseman Sam Lestina to complete the inning-ending double play.

“Dom’s double play was the play of the game,” Selinger said.

Whiteford picked up a run in the bottom of the sixth, and Hagenbaumer mowed down Crest Hill in the seventh, nailing down the save for Whiteford winning pitcher Cam Goodwin.

“Catch the ball, and we are the champions,” Cristy said. “It feels great to be the champs.”

Crest Hill scored four times off Cristy in the top of the first, highlighted by a 280-foot, two-run homer off the bat of All-DRC shortstop Josh Cunniff, who had two hits.

Whiteford, which received 14 bases on balls from Crest Hill pitchers, used four walks to pull within 4-3 in the bottom of the second. Nate Gallagher and Matt Medders each coaxed bases-loaded walks to pull the Bulldogs within one.

Crest Hill opened a 6-3 lead on a Hernandez RBI single and an RBI groundout from Cronin in the top of the fourth inning.

Six walks and a crucial Crest Hill error led to six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and a 9-6 Whiteford lead. Gallagher, who walked three times, coaxed another bases-loaded walk before Villagomez’s first two-run single put the Bulldogs up, 7-6. Whiteford catcher Luke Selinger (2 for 4, double, RBI) made it 8-6 with a booming double down the left-field line.

“I really hit the ball hard on the single that gave us the 7-6 lead in the fourth inning,” Villagomez said. “The fifth-inning single, I just wanted to put the ball in play. Feels great to be champions.”

Whiteford winning pitcher Goodwin had his fastball working as he struck out five Crest Hill batters in three innings of relief to pick up the win.

“I knew I had to come in to settle us down and throw strikes,” Goodwin said. “My fastball was great tonight.”

“Cam really brought a semblance of order to the game for us,” Selinger said. “He was outstanding.”

Hagenbaumer’s heroics earned him the DRC tournament MVP award.

“It was scary for me out there, but it feels awesome to be the tournament MVP and champions,” Hagenbaumer said. “I’m looking forward to leading next year’s team for a repeat.”

“I’m so proud of the kids for how hard they played tonight,” Selinger said. “I am proud of the way the Crest Hill kids played as well.”

Marshall’s Sports Huddle team also had a great season.

“We had a great season,” Cunniff said. “It felt great to get my seventh home run. I have been seeing the ball well all summer. It stinks that we didn’t win the championship.”

“Fourteen walks and four balks,” Marshall said. “Wow! That’s not going to win any games for you against a great Whiteford team. We lost tonight, but we will meet Whiteford in their tournament in two weeks. We are already preparing for that meeting now.”

Rain on Thursday and Friday caused the tournament semifinals to be moved to an 11:30 a.m. Saturday start.

Dale A.C. beat Whiteford Dupree Heating & Air Conditioning, 5-2, in the first semifinal. Crest Hill Sports Huddle topped Channahon Coldwell Banker, 5-4, in the second semifinal to avenge two one-run losses in the regular season. The outcome meant Channahon did not have a team in the tournament championship game for the first time in three years.

Channahon (13-4) outslugged Dupree, 12-8, for third place.

by Darke Skleba
Original article located at the Herald-News.

CH vs W at Whiteford Tournament 2017

At the 2017 Whiteford July All-Star Tournament, Crest Hill beat Whiteford to win the tournament. Prior to this game Crest Hill had 10-run ruled the Whiteford team four-times. Today the score was 3-2 in 8 innings.  Players and coaches all agreed that this was a great game to play and coach.  All the kids gained a lot of respect for one another that day and they showed it in this picture.  Definitely one of the reasons to love coaching and playing youth baseball – the life lessons you learn!

Pony League baseball: Channahon avenges three losses to Morris in DRC tournament finals

Channahon avenges three losses to Morris in DRC tournament finals

CREST HILL – After falling three consecutive times to Morris American Legion Post 294 in DuPage River Conference Pony action this summer, the boys of Channahon Stonebriar Enterprises finally turned the tables on Morris in Saturday night’s DuPage River Conference Tournament championship at Joe Marshall Field.

Trailing 2-1 in the top of the seventh inning, Channahon’s Nick Gomoll’s two-out, bases-loaded single brought home Kurt Sonnenberg with the tying run. In the top of the eighth, with one out, Jake Mayfield ripped a double and scored the eventual winning run on an RBI ground out by Jake Manning.

Sonnenberg nailed down the save in the bottom of the eighth for DRC Tournament MVP Dalton Pickett as Channahon rallied for a 3-2 extra-inning win.

Channahon (27-6) fell in the 2016 DRC Tournament championship to Troy Titans Blue. Minutes after the 2016 title loss, head coach Jason Bisbee said, “We return everyone in 2017. We should be pretty good.” Indeed.

After Riley Ponio sent a Pickett fastball over the center field fence for a 1-0 Morris lead, Channahon picked up an unearned run against starter Ethan Kubina, who was the winning pitcher in the three regular season games, to tie the game at 1-1, in the top of the fourth inning. Morris (30-3) regained the lead 2-1 on an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth.

Kurt Sonnenberg’s 10-pitch at bat to lead off the Channahon seventh resulted in a walk. He fouled off five pitches with two strikes before coaxing the free pass.

“I was not going to strike out,” Sonnenberg said. “I battled and just continued to foul off pitch after pitch from Kubina. I even hit my car with one of the foul balls.”

Tyler Wong’s sacrifice bunt moved Sonnenberg to second and then he stole third base. An intentional walk to Pickett and another walk to Johnson Geers loaded the bases. Gomoll ripped a clutch-two-out, RBI single to score Sonnenberg with the tying run.

“It was a big spot in the game,” said Gomoll. “I  was really nervous but I really hit the ball well for the big single to tie the game.”

Pickett stuck out the side in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings. He allowed one earned run, two hits and fanned 13 to pick up the win. The last five batters that faced him struck out.

“I really didn’t think about the MVP,” Pickett said. “It’s awesome to win the award but it’s great for all of us, to win the championship. My fastball and curveball were definitely my best pitches tonight.”

Kubina allowed two runs and two hits while striking out nine and walking four in his seven innings of work.

Mayfield doubled with one out and scored the game-winning run on Manning’s ground out.

“I knew I hit the ball well and it was a great feeling to see the ball drop after the left fielder dove and the ball fell in,” Mayfield said. “It was a great feeling to score the game-winning run and catch the final out of the game. “

In the bottom of the eighth, Morris’s Cole Hintze ripped a one-out double. After Sonnenberg got a strike out for the second out, Hintze took third on a wild pitch. But Sonnenberg induced a short pop up to Mayfield in center to conclude things.

“ I just could not let Morris score,” Sonnenberg said. “It is awesome to be the champions!”

“I am so proud of my kids and my coaches for all that we accomplished,” Bisbee said. “With everyone back, I knew we would be good this year. We worked hard and battled back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits tonight. The kids would just not lose.”

For American Leagion Post 294, the 28-2 record was the best regular-season mark in the 36-year history of the league that was founded by Joe and Donna Marshall. Morris took home the huge regular season championship trophy.

“We have truly had a special season, this summer,” Morris head coach Kevin Fischer said. “I am so proud of what my kids accomplished. Two great teams battled tonight and we just fell a little short.”

Third-Place Game – Crest Hill Sports Huddle 5, St. Joseph’s Stingers 3: Just when you think that you’ve witnessed everything in a baseball game, the great game once again shows you that ‘you ain’t seen nothing, yet’.

With Crest Hill Sports Huddle (25-7) up 5-3 in the top of the sixth against the St. Joseph’s Stingers (20-12) in the tournament’s third-place game, the truly unexpected happened.

The Stingers had runners on first and second with no outs. Crest Hill starting and winning pitcher Ryan Highland (Joliet West), threw one more pitch in the inning. Highland’s battery mate, Joshua Cunniff, took care of the rest.

Highland’s last pitch of the inning was a strike out. Cunniff, dropped the third strike but with first base occupied, he recorded the first put out of the inning. The Stinger runners took off for second and third. Cunniff raced down to first base and put the tag on the Stinger runner, trying to get back to first base for the second out.

The Stinger on third base streaked toward home plate, only to have Cunniff waiting for him at the plate for the tag and the third out of the inning. It completed an odd 2-2-2 unassisted triple-play by the Crest Hill catcher, who will play in high school at Plainfield Central.

Earlier on Saturday, head coach Joe Marshall’s Crest Hill Sports Huddle team defeated Channahon’s Warren Excavating for the Crossroads of America’s Pony Tournament title.

American Legion Post 294 advanced to the finals with a 5-3 win over St. Joseph’s while Stonebriar Enterprises moved on following a 7-6 victory over Sports Huddle.

by Megan Schuller
Original Article located at the Herald News

Crossroads of MidAmerica Pony Championship Game

Crest Hill Sports Huddle 7, Channahon Warren Excavating 3

In the top of the first inning Channahon scored two runs to take the lead. In the bottom of the first Crest Hill came back & scored 3 runs. Orion Herandez lead off with a single, stole 2nd. Xavier Roman followed with a walk. Stevie Bakalar hit a sacrifice fly to score Herandez for Crest Hills first run. Adam Mumme singled to drive in Roman to tie the score at 2. Brodie McIntyre walked. Ashton Mutnansky laid down a perfect suicide bunt scoring Brodie McIntyre to give Crest Hill a 3 to 2 lead after one inning. Neither team scored in the second inning. In the top of the 3rd inning Channahon scored one run to tie the game at 3. In the bottom of the 4th Crest Hill took the lead when Brodie McIntyre singled, went to second on a wild pitch, stole third, & scored on a ground out by Sam Trafton. Crest Hill scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 6th on a hit batter, a walk, & a dropped third strike. Noah Magolan singled to put Crest Hill up 7 to 3 going into the top of the 7th. Channahon loaded the bases with one out with a hit batter, & two infield hits. Winning pitcher & Tournament MVP Brodie McIntyre got the 2nd out on a strikeout & Stevie Bakalar caught a hard hit line drive up the middle for the final out. This is the first Crossroads Championship for Crest Hill Sports Huddle. Crest Hill also was the regular season Champion with 25 wins & 3 loses. They finished their season with 27 wins & 3 loses.

DuPage River All Conference Games

Game 1: South 7, North 6  

Starting pitcher form Morris Ethan Kubina worked the first 2 innings for the South giving up 1 hit, striking out 4 & walking none. For the North Cevyn Crawford from St. Joe’s got the only hit off Kubina with a double in the top of the first inning. In the bottom of the first Morris’s Riley Ponio put the South on the scoreboard with a home run for 1 to 0 lead off the North’s starting pitcher from Channahon Nick Gomoll.  Gomoll gave up only the home run & a single by Morris’s  Asa Cooper through the first 3 innings with 5 strikeouts. In the bottom of the third the North scored two runs when Crest Hill’s Edgar Rodriquez reached base on a infield error & went to second on a pass ball. Rodiquez moved to third on a infield hit by Channahon’s Jake Mayfield & scored on a infield hit by Channahon’s Donny Sonnenberg. Mayfield then scored on a wild pitch to give the   North a 2 to 1 lead.   In the top of the 4th for the North  Channahon’s Kurt Sonnenburg tripled with one out & was left stranded. In the bottom 4th the North’s starting pitcher Gomll walked the base loaded. Kurt Sonneburg came in & picked the runner off first. After another walk Troy’s  Devin Singer singled scoring two runs & another two walks. The South scored 4 runs for a 5 to 2 lead. Morris Riley Ponio pitched the third & 4th innings for the South giving up 3 hits, striking out 3, no walks & 2 unearned runs. In the top of the 5th for the North Crest Hill’s Sam Novak & St.Joe’s Adam Aguilera lead off with back to back doubles off Troy pitcher Bryson Laken to cut the South’s lead to 5 to 3. In the top of the 6th Channahon’s Nick Gomoll lead off with a single & was thrown out on a attempted steal. Channahon’s Jake Mayfield, Jake Manning, & Donny Sonnerburg followed with 3 single’s to load the bases.  St. Joe’s Richard Facchina then followed with a triple scoring 3 runs to give the North the lead 6 to 5.  In the bottom of the 6th the South regained the lead off Crest Hill’s pitcher Ryan Highland on a walk, hit batter, & singles by Whiteford’s Chris Hogan & Morris’s Alec Lovell . In the top of the 7th the South  brought in pitcher Devin Singer from Troy who retired the side in order with 2 strikeouts for the save.

Game 2: North 4, South 2

In the 2nd game Josh Cunniff from Crest Hill doubled  & scored on a attempted pick off play throwing error from 2nd base giving the North a 1 to 0 lead. Morris’s Kubina pitched the first 2 innings giving up one hit, striking out one & giving up on unearned run. The scored remained 1 to 0 until the top of the 4th inning . Whiteford’s Chris Hogan reached first base on a infield error with 2 outs. Morris’s Alec Lovell doubled scoring the South’s first run & Bryson Laken from Troy followed with a single to give the South the lead 2 to 1 lead after 4 innings. In the bottom of the 5th & the South leading 2 to 1, St. Joe’s Cevyn Crawford reached first base on a infield error & went to second on throwing error on a attempted pick off. Crest Hills Sam Novak followed with a single & St. Joe’s Adam Aguliar walked to load the bases. Alex Rocha from St. Joe’s tripled clearing the bases to give the North a 4 to 2 lead after 5 innings. In the top of the 6th Minooka’s Anthony D’Apice was hit by a pitch & Whiteford’s  Chris Hogan singled, but were left on. In the top of the 7th the South mounted a rally with two infield errors & a single from Bryson Laken with one out. Cevyn Crawford the starting pitcher for the North from St. Joe’s  then struck out the last two batters to give the North a split on the evening with a 4 to 2 victory. Crawford struck out 6, walked none, hit one batter, gave up 5 hits in a outstanding complete game effort & 2 unearned runs. For the South Devin Singer pitched 2 innings, & Brody Schock & Trent Sandeno from Morris each pitched one inning.