Summer Baseball: L-W North Outlasts Providence in 10-inning Thriller

Touching All the Bases: Where to begin? Monday night’s Phil Lawler Summer Classic regional game between Lincoln-Way North and Providence Catholic had a little of everything and a lot of drama.

L-W North jumped ahead 2-0 on a two-run home run from first baseman Reed Hero in the bottom of the third inning. The Phoenix extended their lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth and looked to be on their way to a somewhat comfortable victory.

But the Celtics rallied. Kenny King opened the sixth inning with a home run off reliever Joe Cairo, who had just entered the contest after Mike Miller threw five strong innings. No. 9 hitter Nick Sanders drove in the tying runs later in the inning to make it a 4-4 contest.

There were four lead changes and two ties after that as the game went to extra innings. Both teams nullified each other’s one-run rallies in the eighth inning, and neither team could cross the plate in the ninth.

Brady Wilkin hit a solo home run to right field in the 10th inning to give Providence an 11-10 lead, and then he came on to pitch the bottom of the frame. Wilkin walked the first two men he faced, and then an RBI single and an errant throw were sandwiched between two strikeouts. With runners on second and third base and two outs, Corey Krupcke hit a blooper to left, bringing home two runs to give the Phoenix the 11-10 victory in Frankfort.

Patch’s MVP: Ryan Pellack caught all 10 innings for the Phoenix and threw out a runner attempting to steal. But he was even better in the batter’s box. Pellack went 3-for-3 with three walks, as he reached base in all six of his plate appearances. He tripled and drove in three runs.

Lincoln-Way North Leaders: In addition to Pellack’s effort, the Phoenix received a home run from Reed Hero, Jack Troike went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs, Corey Krupce went 2-for-4 with three walks and the game-tying and winning RBIs, and Mike Miller pitched five innings, giving up just a single run while striking out six.

Providence Leaders: Brady Wilkin went 3-for-6 with a home run and two RBIs, Kenny King was 3-for-5 with three RBIs (coming up just a triple short of hitting for the cycle), Billy Quirke and Branden Boggetto both had two hits apiece, and Sam Tidaback drew three walks.

Quotable I: Providence coach Mark Smith on playing 10 innings after edging Stagg 5-4 in an afternoon contest: “I don’t know how much farther we would’ve got past this. We had one arm left. Arm-wise we don’t have a ton of numbers, so we have to figure some things out for the spring.

“I was proud with how the kids battled back, down to the last inning and three-run deficit in sixth and again in the seventh. We didn’t make some plays we needed to make, but it was a good game by both teams who played hard and are tired.”

Quotable II: Lincoln-Way North’s Corey Krupcke on the game-winning hit: “It was just an up-and-in fastball. I was having trouble getting my hands through all day and finally was able to fight it off and it fell in the gap. I love being able to come up big and being clutch.”

Team Records: Lincoln-Way North improved to 14-2. Providence finished at 9-7.

What’s Next: Lincoln-Way North will host Lockport today (July 19) at 7 p.m. as Sandburg Regional play continues in the IHSBCA (Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association) Phil Lawler Summer Classic. Providence will resume play next spring.