By Matt Huck
Area Scout

JOLIET, IL - St. Viator jumped all over Marmion for an 11-1 six inning victory in the Class 3A Semifinal game on Friday afternoon. Viator has been using its offense and the two way ability of Cole Kmet during its playoff run, and today was no different.

Both teams loaded the bases in the first inning but were unable to come up with a key hit and the game remained scoreless until the third. St. Viator blew the game open with a six run third innings. Joe Sarnello doubled to start the inning and came around to score on a single by Casey Kmet. With two outs and two on John Finnegan hit a towering fly ball to right field that was dropped and the route was on. Brett DeSelm followed with an RBI single to make it 6-0. Casey Kmet worked a bases loaded walk to make it 7-0.

The Lions kept pouring it on in the fourth with two more runs on an RBI double from Brett DeSelm. They added a run in the fifth and two in the sixth to make it 11-1.

Kmet allowed two runners on in the first with one away, but settled in to strike out the next two hitters to kill the rally. Kmet went the distance allowing just one run, six hits and striking out nine. At the plate Kmet finished the day 3-5 with two doubles and an RBI. His fastball sat 86-88 mph during the game and topped out at 91 mph in the first inning. He got a lot of strikeouts with his slider that sat 78-81 mph with hard biting action.

Jack Molenhouse drove in a run for Marmion.

St. Viator will meet fellow East Suburban Catholic Marian Catholic for the 3A State Final tomorrow. Marmion will meet Champaign Central in the third place game.

Related Content