By Michael Wojtychiw

It was quite the Public League playoffs for Kenwood. From scoring three runs in the sixth inning to give the Broncos some breathing space in their 5-1 win over Ogden in the quarterfinals to winning on a walk off balk in extra innings against Lane in the semifinals, the team hasn’t been one to shy away from the dramatics en route to what they hoped to be their first city championship.

Standing in their way, however, was upstart Payton. The Grizzlies had become one of the most intriguing teams as the regular season came down the homestretch. After a loss on May 3 dropped the team to 4-16 on the year, it went on an eight-game winning streak, including four straight in the city tournament over teams like Brooks, Taft and a dominating 11-5 win over Simeon in the semifinals. 

So when the two teams met on a beautiful afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field, the home of the Chicago White Sox, the prevailing thought was that the game would be much different than the 7-1 Kenwood win earlier in the season.

That thought was correct.

“I want to give Walter Payton credit,” Kenwood coach Romey Bracey said. “We played them earlier in the season and it wasn’t as close as this. This was a very tough game.”

Bracey’s squad continued not only its winning ways Monday, but also its dramatic flair, scoring two runs on an error in the sixth inning to break a 0-0 tie and bring home the school’s first city baseball title by defeating Payton 2-0.

“This is one of the goals,” he said. “And the first one is always the hardest one.”

The Broncos were able to do it behind the stellar pitching of junior Kevari Thunderbird. The Eastern Kentucky commit was stellar from the start, striking out eight in the first three innings, including striking out the side on each of the first two innings.

“I’m not going to lie; I really couldn’t sleep [last night],” Thunderbird said. “I was thinking about the moment and getting the win for my team, especially my brothers. I wanted to make sure they both left with a ring.”

“That’s our guy,” Bracey said. “He’s taken such a leap this year. He’s always been a top-notch guy, but his fundamentals have grown so much. When he’s got the ball in his hands, we feel confident in our chances of competing and winning.” 

8oth teams had their opportunities to score runs but the stellar pitching from both Thunderbird and his Payton counterpart Max McNamara were able to keep the bats at bay. Thunderbird would finish with six innings pitched and 12 strikeouts, allowing just two hits.

McNamara went all six innings and finished with six strikeouts, giving up just five hits. He also made big pitches when he needed them. The Broncos left eight runners on base between the third and fifth innings, including the bases loaded in both the third and fifth inning. In each of those innings, McNamara got out of the jam by striking out a Kenwood batter to end the inning and the scoring threat.

Kenwood was finally able to capitalize in the bottom of the sixth inning. Phillip Thigpen and Brandon Stinson got on courtesy of an infield single and walk, respectively and were moved over a base on a sacrifice bunt by Destin Edwards. Jonathan Patterson followed with a ground ball but an errant throw allowed both Thigpen and Stinson to score the game’s only runs.  

“I trust my teammates to get the job done, so I wasn’t worried,” Thunderbird said.

The boys basketball and football teams get a lot of the publicity at Kenwood, but the Broncos’ manager is happy that his squad is the one who gets to bring the city championship trophy home.

“We have a little innercompetitive nature between each other and that’s always excellent,” Bracey said about his relationship with other coaches at Kenwood. “So, on our down time in the offseason, I get to talk a little smack.”

Both teams now prepare for the state playoffs. The Grizzlies, the seventh seed in the Fenwick Sectional, get Prosser in the first round of the Prosser Regional on Thursday at 4:30. The Prosser Regional games are being played at Clemente. Kenwood hosts its own regional, facing Proviso West Wednesday at 4:30 at Cornell Park. 

“This gives us a lot of confidence,” Thunderbird said. “Just know we comin.”