By Bobby Narang
The IHSA (Illinois High School Association) baseball season ended without much drama.
Considering the four-class State tournament, which included the Class 3A and 4A teams, wrapped up the season in the first weekend of June, it was a mild surprise.
In 3A, Lemont knocked off Highland in the semifinals to reach the championship game, while Crystal Lake Central defeated Morris.
Crystal Lake Central captured the 3A championship with a 3-2 victory over Lemont. The Tigers won the program’s first State championship at Joliet’s Duly Health and Care Field to end a magical and unexpected season on top of the mountain.
The Tigers endured a rough opening this season by winning just nine of their first 23 games before kick-starting a 13-game winning streak, thanks to a 3-2 walk-off victory over Prairie Ridge May 6.
The Tigers scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull out the victory.
•In the 4A final, Conant nearly pulled off a shocking run by defeating York and ace pitcher Ryan Sloan, 1-0, in the semifinals. Sloan, a Wake Forest University recruit, is among the top players in the country and a possible first-round selection in the upcoming Major League Baseball draft. Sloan reached 99 miles an hour on the radar gun, but the Cougars scored the only run of the game via Isaiah Rhodes’ sharp single to center field. Sloan was masterful and allowed three hits and fanned eight in six innings
But, Conant’s Franklin Kirchner was even better, by allowing two hits and striking out seven in seven innings to pick up the victory.
In the other semifinal, Providence knocked off Edwardsville.
Providence ended Conant’s 14-game winning streak with a 4-1 triumph in the 4A State championship game. Two errors hurt the Conant and let Providence score one run in the top of the second inning and three runs in the fourth. The Celtics (33-8) spoiled the best season in Conant history and won their first State championship since 2016 and sixth overall in program history.
“I’m so proud of this group,” Providence head coach Mark Smith said. “We played great baseball in the postseason. Defensively, we were really good. We got timely hitting and took advantage of some mistakes.”