By Joey Gelman
The best of the Jackie Robinson North and South conferences competed in a fiercely competitive Chicago Public League Varsity Baseball Semifinal as Lane Tech squared off against Kenwood, with Kenwood securing a trip to the Championship at Guaranteed Rate Field in a wild finish.
It was a pitcher’s duel between two of the top pitchers in the Public League, Lane Tech’s Josh Katz and Kenwood Kevari Thunderbird.
Both pitchers lived up to the hype as both Katz and Thunderbird pitched through 7 full innings, commanding the game until they reached the IHSA high school pitch count limit.
“In order to be the champs you gotta beat the champs,” said Kenwood Head Coach Romey Bracey. “We knew they had their big time guys… Katz who is one heck of a competitor… we knew we had to see them again to reach our goal. I wouldn’t have wanted to face anyone else.”
“[Kevari] has been our anchor. All big games he pitches for us… we believe in our top guy. He’s such a competitor, I couldn’t have asked for more,” Bracey said.
The Broncos got on the board first in the bottom of the third inning after Savion Flowers of Kenwood reached on an error, scoring Kemari Thomas after he walked earlier in the inning.
“[Key was] Attack the fastball, get them on, get them over, get them in,” Flowers said. “If I put the ball in play, it’s going to help the team.”
Lane Tech stormed right back in the top half of the 5th inning, answering with two runs thanks to a single to center by Ethan Borggren, giving Lane a 2-1 lead.
Kenwood quickly tied the score up at two a piece thanks to a fielder’s choice hit once again by Flowers.
“Savion has been coming through in big moments since he’s been a Bronco,” Bracey said. “In the toughest moments he shines the best.”
The Broncos and Champions remained in a heated battle that extended to extra innings, and the exciting back and forth of the 8th inning crowned a finalist.
In the top of the 8th inning, Lane’s Louis Derechin doubled to left on a fly ball that almost left the ballpark at Brooks College Prep. Two sacrifice fly balls in a row hit by Tyler Rwakatare-Trapp and Zach Shashoua brought Derechin home to score to take a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the 8th inning.
But Kenwood would have an answer.
In the bottom of the 8th inning, Tyler Thigpen singled up the middle scoring Flowers who reached earlier on a walk to knot the game at 3-3. Jimmy Downs (relief pitcher), who also reached on a walk earlier that inning, advanced to third on the single and was replaced by a courtesy runner Nicholas Asiyanbi. As Braden Stinson readied to bat for Kenwood, Lane’s Ethan Borggren (now pitching) faked a pick-off throw to first base but did not step off the mound, nor was the first baseman covering the bag, resulting in a balk call, automatically advancing all runners on base by one base, allowing Asiyanbi to score the winning run 4-3.
“[We wanted to] prove the city wrong, this is Kenwood baseball, we’re building a legacy,” Flowers said.
“I started to feel my fastball more,” said Kevari Thunderbird. “ We prepared good for Katz… to be honest, didn’t have exact (gameplan), just wanted to help my team win and go to city.”
Flowers had complete confidence in his starting pitcher, as they’re already great friends and set to be roommates next year at Eastern Kentucky University.
“I expected that (performance), he’s my roomie… he’s got that dawg in him.”
Kenwood will take on the Walter Payton College Prep Grizzlies, who come into this game as the Cinderella story of the public league baseball playoffs, starting the tournament as the 7th seed in the Jackie Robinson North conference, and have advanced to the championship game after knocking off Hancock, Brooks and Simeon.
“Payton was one of the better hitting teams that we’ve seen all year,” Bracey said. “ So we know its going to be a fight. We’re going to come prepared and ready.”
Kenwood and Payton will compete in the Chicago Public League Baseball Championship on Monday, May 22, 2023 at Guaranteed Rate Field, home of the Chicago White Sox. Admission and Parking (Lot B) is free of charge and all fans can enter the ballpark at Gate 5, beginning at Noon.
