By Drake Skleba
For the Bugle
Downers Grove South (20-9, 14-4) blanked Morton 2-0, behind a five-hit shutout from Cam Crowley and shared the 2018 West Suburban Conference Gold Division championship, with their archrivals from Hinsdale South (18-10. 14-4) Hinsdale South, swept away Leyden 3-1 to grab the Hornets a share of the WSC Gold crown.
Crowley struck out 10 Morton hitters and drove home the only run he would need, in the game. Jack Blazevich, drove home the other Mustang run, while Jake Pileggi, chipped in with a pair of hits, for the WSC Gold co-champions.
SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE REPORT
Joliet West 4, Plainfield North 2
The Tigers (8-23, 4-14) stunned the SPC champs from North, by scoring two times in the top of the sixth, to break-up a 2-2 tie and go on to the SPC victory at North.
Mark Garcia and Dalton Henderson, drove home two huge Tiger runs and Adam Herron, went the distance, firing a seven-hitter at the SPC champs. Brett Johnson and Ty Batusich, each chipped in with a pair of hits for West.
Plainfield North (22-7, 15-3) was led by Cam Kissel, who had three more hits. Third baseman Sean Tillmon, drove home both Tiger runs.
Plainfield East 5 Oswego East 4
The Bengals (26-5, 14-4) rallied past the Wolves, to share second place in the SPC with rival Plainfield South (20-8, 14-4) in the SPC. Trailing the Wolves (12-15, 6-12) 4-1, the Bengals scored two runs in the sixth and two in the seventh, to steal the SPC victory from Oswego East.
Bengal catcher, Sean Blanchard, continued his assault on the baseball, with two more hits and an RBI while Dalton Crowder, also had two hits and an RBI. Frank Bryan continued his clutch hitting, knocking in another huge Bengal run.
Plainfield South 6 Minooka 5
Cougar head coach Phil Bodine, picked up career win 601 as Plainfield South (20-8, 14-4) once again slipped past Minooka, in the Battle of Ridge Road, in Minooka on Thursday.
AJ Mannucci – the Cougar cleanup man, continued to torture Indian pitchers, with four more hits and three big Cougar RBI. Third baseman Zach Pawlack had two big Cougar RBI.
For Minooka (15-13, 9-9), second baseman Cherokee Lebeau, continued his hot-hitting, with two hits and two RBI.
Oswego 10 Plainfield Central 5
The Wildcats (22-9, 12-6) 11 -game winning streak, came to an end in Oswego on Thursday. Wildcat third baseman David Ascensio, continued his torrid hitting getting two more hits.
Romeoville 4 Joliet Central 2
The Spartans (6-25, 3-15) stunned the Steelmen, on Senior Day at Romeoville, behind Jeremy McFarland and Jeremy Kinsley. McFarland allowed two runs and five hits in five innings, to pick up the win on the mound for the Spartans. Kinsley drove home two big Spartan runs, while Spartan closer Mike McGuire, slammed the door on the Steelmen, throwing two scoreless innings with two strikeouts, to pick up the save.
Joliet Central (12-19, 2-16) was led by the hot-hitting of Johnny Slattery who drove home another Steelmen run. Nico Gutierrez picked up the other RBI for the Steelmen
CLASS 2A LISLE REGIONAL SEMIFINALS
Lisle 17 Chicago Academy 0 4 1/2 innings
The Lions (19-11) roared into Saturday’s Class 2A Lisle Regional Championship Game vs. St. Joe’s. Senior Zach Heidenry, pitched and hit, the Lions past their guests from Chicago. Heidenry, fired a one-hit shutout and had two hits at the plate.
Jay McGrath, the long-range three-point specialist, for the Lions’ hoopsters, had three hits and three RBI. to lead the Lion attack. Connor Nigro and Aaron Cail, each drove home a pair of Lion runs. Damien Guerrero, chipped in with two hits.
DU PAGE RIVER REPORT No activity was reported in the nearby, beautiful, Du Page River, on Thursday.
STEVEN M BAJENSKI MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT
Lockport (19-13) rolled past Oak Park, to even up its record at 1-1 in the prestigious tournament. After losing to Brother Rice 9-3 in its opening game, the Porters have received a No. 10 seed in the 14-team tournament and will play three games this weekend in the consolation bracket.
Tommy Louch (6-3), allowed two runs and six hits, in his solid five-inning performance to pick up the win. Porter closer, Rich Jessie shut the door on the Huskies, in the sixth and seventh innings, to pick up his fifth save of the season. Josh Bentley led the Porters with two singles and an RBI.