Monday Recap
Providence picked up another big win Monday, beating Mount Carmel for the second time in three days, this time by a score of 3-2.
LHP Matt Trowbridge allowed two earned runs on five hits and struck out nine to get the win.
The offense was not as explosive as it had been in the previous two games but the same players led the charge, with 2B Kevin DeFillipis and 3B Sam Travis picking up an RBI apiece.
The win moves the Celtics to 22-3 overall and to 10-3 in the Catholic League.
They also make a return to the PG National High School Rankings, coming in this week at #35.
Mount Carmel has lost three of four games but remains in the Catholic League race.
They will be tested again this week with games Wednesday and Saturday against perennial power St. Rita.
Illinois Regionals start May 25 and both teams are contenders to make it to the state championship June 10-11 in Joliet.
Saturday Recap
Providence Catholic came into Saturday's match-up vs. Mount Carmel coming off a dominant offensive performance on Friday night. The Celtic offense crushed eight home runs to post a dominant 20-3 victory over a Plainfield North team that was undefeated and had risen to #37 in the PG Top 50 High School Rankings.
They carried that momentum into Saturday's game of the week crushing four more home runs en route to a 13-3 win.
Just as in Friday's game when Kevin DeFillipis led off the game with a home run, the offense got started early as DeFillippis and SS Joe Houlihan walked before 3B Sam Travis gave them a 3-0 lead with a homerun.
The Celtics posted three more runs in the second and two in the third to take a commanding 8-0 lead after two innings. In the second, Zak Kutsulis led off with a homerun before DeFilippis singled and was driven home on a double by 1B Dan Potempa. Potempa also scored promptly on a single by 1B Colin McEnery.
The eight runs would be more than enough for starting pitcher Brandon Magallones. The Northwestern commit held the Caravan offense to two earned runs over five innings. He allowed six hits, walked four while striking out 8. In a performance that his coach, Mark Smith, called "vintage Brandon," he worked 87-88 with his fastball, and flashed a solid curveball, but it was his changeup that was his out pitch on the day, with Smith saying it was the best he had thrown it this year.
But the story was undoubtedly the offense which ended the day with 13 hits, seven of them going for extra bases. Six players had multiple hits, with Travis and Potempa having the biggest days, each going 2-4 with a home run and four RBI.
"I was happy with our approach Friday, and hitting is contagious, it continued Saturday," said Smith.
Mount Carmel got some offense going with a run in the third and a pair in the 5th, but Providence's 5-run fifth made it 13-3 for a run-rule victory. 1B Sam Kint had three hits, including a double to lead the Caravan offense, and LF Jeff Boehm had a hit and drove in a run.
Mount Carmel will have a chance to get revenge as the teams are scheduled to meet again Monday afternoon, with this matchup taking place in New Lenox at Providence Catholic High School.
LHP Matt Trowbridge, a Central Michigan commit, will be getting the start for Providence Catholic.
Mount Carmel RHP Jeremy Kravetz did not pitch in Saturday's game as initially expected, so there is a chance he will be making the start Monday and trying to shut down Providence's hot offense.
Check back Tuesday for a look back at Monday's game.
Preview
Two of the top teams in the Chicago-land area and Midwest region face off Saturday as Providence Catholic travels north to face Mount Carmel.
The two teams are #4 and 5 in the latest PG High School Midwest Regional Rankings and have combined for a record of 41-6 on the season.
The game means a lot for national rankings but is also a conference game in the Chicago Catholic League Blue Division, one of the top conferences in the nation, featuring these two teams as well as other traditional baseball powers Brother Rice, St. Rita, and Loyola Academy.
The teams have some of the most talented rosters in the state with several Division one commitments among them.
Providence Catholic has went 19-3 so far behind a pitching staff that features LHP Colin McEnery (Indiana commit), LHP Matt Trowbridge (Central Michigan), and an infield led by SS Joe Houlihan (Central Michigan), 2B Kevin DeFilippis (Notre Dame), and 3B Sam Travis (Indiana).
“This team has a ton of talent and ability, but that is only going to get you so far,” says Coach Mark Smith.
The Celtics have struggled at times with consistency, especially in throwing strikes, something that Smith will count on Saturday when Northwestern commit RHP Brandon Magallones takes the mound Saturday.
“We need Brandon to throw strikes, keep them off the bases, and minimize Boehm,” says Smith.
LHP/OF Jeff Boehm (Kentucky) is the leader of the Caravan offense, as well as doubling as one of their top hurlers and is one of the best players in the state.
Mount Carmel is supremely talented as well with 2B/OF Chris Sujka (Indiana), OF Ryan Fitzpatrick, and underclassmen 3B Tyler Laurisch and SS Jerry Houston.
They are projected to counter with another Big 10 commit on the mound in RHP John Kravetz, who consistently pitches in the high 80s and is committed to Illinois.
The game will be the Caravan’s 5th on the week, after beating Loyola, De La Salle, and Brother Rice earlier in the week, also dropping a game to Loyola on Wednesday.
The teams follow up this meeting with another match-up Tuesday, with that taking place in New Lenox at Providence Catholic High School.
Check back Monday for the complete recap from Saturday’s pivotal match-up.
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