By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

Lemont 10, Springfield 0 (6 innings)

JOLIET, IL – For the second time in the last three years, Lemont takes home the 3A State Title. Lemont scored seven runs in the fifth inning, in route to a 10-0 six inning victory over Springfield on Saturday at Silver Cross Field in Joliet.

With two outs, the bases empty and leading 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Lemont proceeded to score seven runs. 10 consecutive Lemont batters reached base with two outs, thanks to two hits, seven walks (one intentional) and an error. By the time it was all said and done Springfield had made three pitching changes and Lemont had a 9-0 lead heading into the top of the sixth inning. Center fielder Joe Kelley had an RBI single in the frame and first baseman Nick Wisz, a parkland commit, doubled to left field in the frame.

Senior right-handed pitcher Garrett Acton, a St. Louis commit, was in total control from the outset. In Acton’s six innings of shutout work, no Springfield base runner advanced past second base. The right-handers fastball sat 86-89 mph for most of the start, dipping to 84-85 only a few times out of the stretch. In the top of the fifth inning, he still had plenty in the tank reaching back touching 90 mph multiple times and 91 once. Acton scattered three hits, walked three and struck out four in six innings.

After grounding into inning-ending double plays in the first two innings, Lemont was finally able to scratch across a run in the bottom of the third. Christian Krakar led off the inning with a walk. Krakar advanced all the way to third base via a balk and an errant pickoff attempt to second base. Angel Salinas then drove a fly ball to center field, deep enough to score Krakar from third, giving Lemont an early 1-0 lead.

The Indians tacked on another run in the bottom of the fourth inning. After a failed sacrifice bunt attempt with runners on first and second, Ryan Sublette came through with an RBI single into right-center field. Springfield was able to avoid any further damage thanks to a strikeout and groundout, getting out of the fourth inning down 2-0.

Lemont cemented their second state title in the last three years with a game-ending single in the bottom of the sixth inning. Austin Tittle, a Lewis commit and Sublette hit consecutive one out singles and Krakar drew a two-out walk, loading the bases for Salinas. Salinas took a pitch out over the plate and served it into left field, scoring Tittle and giving Lemont a 10-0 (6 inning) 3A State Championship win.

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