By Dominic Scianna
The Lane Tech College Prep vs. Kenwood Academy Chicago Public League (CPL) high school varsity baseball rivalry took another turn at Les Miller Field at Curtis Granderson Stadium on the campus of the University of Illinois – Chicago this past Thursday, May 24.
Lane, the reigning 2024 champion, scored all of its runs in the seventh inning for a come-from-behind 5-3 win against the Broncos of Kenwood in last season’s city title game at Wrigley Field.
The 2025 version of this showdown of the two top teams in the CPL became a slugfest and was a test of will for both squads, one that would go down as another nail-biting finish to the bitter end. Kenwood prevailed in the roller-coaster battle, fighting back a late Lane rally for a 10-9 victory.
Broncos senior Brandon Stinson was the hitting star and MVP of the game with a banner day at the plate, going 5-for-5 while driving in the game-winning RBI in the top of the seventh inning to give Kenwood (17-6-1) the victory.
“I told coach (Romey Bracey) that I’m a playoff player,” Stinson said. “I want that big at bat and a chance for a walk-off or game-winning situation. My preparation and mindset this whole season has prepared me for moments like this. And, we had to keep pushing (during Lane’s comeback) because we remembered what happened last year. This time we were ready and got the job done.”
Brandon’s brother Evan Stinson pitched four solid innings before closer Josiah Patterson came in to stem the tide in the fifth inning with a huge strikeout to thwart Lane with the bases loaded, getting out of a jam in allowing no runs in the bottom half of the fifth, his first inning of relief.
But Coach Sean Freeman’s Champions (24-10) weren’t about to go down easily.
His squad battled back from an early 8-2 deficit after the first two innings, and sparked a sixth-inning rally with four runs to tie the game at 9-9 and set up the improbable finish.
Lane’s Miles Mazanowski and Jacob McVinney (2-for-4) had two RBI each in the sixth, as a crowd of more than 900+ fans cheered on the heroics for both sides as the night crept past 10 p.m. at UIC with the game still in the balance. Conor Sullivan also pitched in with two hits in defeat.
Kenwood captain Phillip Thigpen went 3-for-3 for the Broncos and was supported by three hits from Lance Moon and two hits from leadoff hitter Damaurion Butler.
“Oh my gosh, these games have been exciting (the past two years). We knew that Lane Tech is extremely talented and we had to keep putting up runs because they are so dangerous,” said Bracey. “I had to keep putting it in our guys minds that they may have beaten us last year (in the city title game) but not this year because we’re going to make the last play (to win).”
Freeman was proud of this squad despite the rough start to have a chance to win in the end.
Patterson got the win on the mound in his three innings of work for Kenwood, while Lane freshman Dodger Fredrich took the loss but pitched well in his 5 ⅓ innings stint in relief and struck out five batters.
“Obviously that’s not how I wanted to start (down 8-2 in the early going), and with the crowd and this atmosphere it would have been easy for us to fold and cave into the pressure – but I’m super proud of our kids for battling back,” Freeman said. “We gave ourselves a chance at the end and Dodger did a helluva job keeping us in the game.”
Both teams now set their sights on the IHSA state playoffs and new life for both CPS squads. It’s a second season of baseball and new challenges for a title run playing against elite Illinois high school competition.
“Honestly I think we can go very far in the state playoffs,” said Patterson, when asked about his Kenwood squads chances moving forward.
His coach agrees wholeheartedly.
“This team is so tough that I always feel we have a chance against anybody,” admitted Bracey. “We’re going to execute, bunt, and hit and run to do whatever we need to for a win, but it’s going to come down to how well we pitch and play defense (in order to advance through the state playoffs).
Photos by Brandon Parker/OSA
