Photos: Providence Baseball Wins Second Consecutive State Title

Photos Courtesy of Ray Tuminello

Providence has done it again.

The school’s varsity Celtic baseball team earned their second consecutive IHSA Class 4A State Championship Title on June 13 at Silver Cross Field in Joliet. The Celtics came from behind defeating Mount Carmel 6-5 in the eighth inning; finishing their season 31-11. This marks 29 state championship titles for the Celtics; the most among private high schools in the state of Illinois.

“It is humbling to realize that we are the first large school in the state to win back-to-back championships in 56 years. The confidence and perseverance these guys put into every practice and every game paid off. I am very proud of these players and honored to be their coach,” said Mark Smith ‘88, PCHS Head Baseball Coach.

The 2015 Providence Catholic varsity baseball team includes Colin Airola ‘16 (Shorewood), Connor Bowles ‘16 (Tinley Park), Alex Brittan ‘15 (Homer Glen), Jake Carlsen ‘15 (Romeoville), Colin Chibe ‘16 (Homer Glen), Connor Creed ‘16 (Lockport), Matt Diehl ‘15 (Orland Park), Jackson Dvorak ‘16 (New Lenox), Kevin Fitzgerald ‘16 (Orland Park), Matt Gruszkowksi ‘16 (Orland Park), Shawn Harper ‘16 (Plainfield), Connor Hilty ‘16 (Mokena), Justin Hunniford ‘15 (Frankfort), Jimmy Jeffries ‘16 (Mokena), Mike Jerik ‘15 (Mokena), Tom Kelley ‘16 (Orland Park), Mike Madej ‘16 (Manhattan), Reed McCool ‘16 (Plainfield), Adam Nichols ‘16 (Elwood), Noah O’Brien ‘16 (Manhattan), Brendan O’Hara ‘16 (New Lenox), Zach Pych ‘16 (Homer Glen), Joey Strick ‘16 (Mokena), Kyle Struck ‘16 (Orland Park), Jackson Stulas ‘16 (Lockport), Matt Trzesniewski ‘16 (Orland Park), Brent Villasenor ‘15 (Orland Park) and Matt Waznis ‘16 (Joliet). The team’s head coach is Mark Smith ’88 and assistant coaches are Chris Carlsen, Frank Cavallone, Garrick Pranchke and Jason Vitas. The team’s managers include Joe Calderone ’15 (Orland Park), Brendan Nieukirk ’18 (Tinley Park), Blake LaBelle ’16 (Orland Park) and Garret Walter ’16 (Homer Glen).