3A State Baseball: JCA Rides Arm of Couch into Title Game

New definition for Couch potato: Any hitter put to sleep during a remarkable run by Joliet Catholic Academy's No. 1 pitcher.

Sam Couch extended his scoreless innings streak to 33 in JCA's 4-0 victory over Mt. Vernon in a semifinal game at the Class 3A state baseball tournament on Friday at Silver Cross Field.

Couch, a 5-foot-8, 150-pound senior right-hander, tossed a four-hit shutout at the Rams, a downstate power from Jefferson County. He struck out five en route to posting his fourth straight shutout. He has not allowed a run in parts of his last five starts.

The win powered Joliet Catholic Academy (24-14) into an 11:30 a.m. game Saturday vs. Wheaton St. Francis for the Class 3A state championship. The Hilltoppers have won six straight and eight of nine, outscoring their opponents 40-4 in the postseason.

Couch (6-1) has led the way. He tossed a no-hitter in JCA's 3-0 victory over Lemont in the regional finals. He followed that up with a 15-strikeout performance in JCA's 13-0 victory over Evergreen Park in the sectional finals.

JCA jumped on Mt. Vernon early, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning and two more in the bottom of the second. Chris Tschida's two-run single in the second was the highlight.

Mitch Boe went 3-for-4 and scored two runs for JCA. John Kalisik went 1-for-3 and drove in one run and Keegan Tyrell went 1-for-3 and scored one run for the Hillmen, who are seeking to win their first IHSA state baseball championship since 2009.

Trevor Flota, Matthew Williams, Sawyer Harrison and Colten Meador had hits for Mt. Vernon (31-9-1), all singles.

Wheaton St. Francis (25-11) earlier advanced with a 6-3 victory over Grayslake Central.