By Sean Duncan

A day after Dominic Purpura got knocked out in the first inning, the 6-foot-4 junior left-hander bounced back to pitch Nazareth Academy to a 9-2 victory over Streamwood in the Phil Lawler Classic championship game Thursday night at Benedictine University in Lisle.

Purpura didn’t allow an earned run and yielded six hits in five innings to lead the Roadrunners (33-4-2) to the IHSBCA summer state championship. An impressive feat considering he yielded seven runs in one-third of an inning against St. Laurence on Wednesday.

Ryan Powers provided Purpura early support when he blasted a first-inning grand slam. Powers, who earned the tournament MVP honors, finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs, four RBI and a walk. The 6-foot-5 right-hander also pitched Nazareth into the championship game in relief of Purpura in the semifinals.

The victory marked the first championship for the Roadrunners, who have advanced to the Class 3A supersectionals the last two years. Senior right-hander Pat Kelly, who on Monday had defeated Streamwood 5-2 in pool play action, pitched two scoreless innings of relief to nail down the victory.

Streamwood finished the summer at 31-6.