Prep Baseball Report

No. 2 Mount Carmel Edges No. 4 St. Rita in Sectional Championship



By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Illinois/Wisconsin

CHICAGO, IL – The Chicago Sectional championship game was easily the most anticipated sectional matchup of the day, featuring two of the top teams in the state with host No. 2 Mount Carmel and the visiting No. 4 St. Rita Mustangs. The pairing did not disappoint as the Caravan narrowly edged St. Rita 5-4.

Out of the gates the Mustangs appeared the aggressor, going for three runs three hits, barreling the Mount Carmel starter Nelson Munoz. Junior Danny Gleaves led things off roping the first pitch of the game up the middle for a clean single and igniting the Mustang offense. Tyler Halas drove in the first run of the game on a deep bases loaded sacrifice fly to left. Shortstop Marty Bechina followed with an RBI single and Cal Greenfield drove in the third run on a sacrifice fly to right.

St. Rita starting pitcher Tyler Halas retired the first five Caravan hitters in order and looked in charge but a two out second inning rally gave the Caravan the lead. With two out and nobody on Jeremy Houston hit a slow roller down the third base line that went for a base hit to get the rally started. Six batters later and not a ball out of the infield and Mount Carmel was up 4-3. A pair of walks, a hit batter and a couple of infield errors gave the Caravan four unearned runs in the inning.

Obviously upset about how things unfolded for him on the mound, Tyler Halas led off the top of the third with a solo home run to center that tied the game at 4-4.

In the third Mount Carmel did it again with two outs and nobody on. A Scott Kapers walk got it started, followed by a Bobby Seymour base hit to right. With first and third and nobody out, Seymour got himself into a rundown after a pick attempt giving the runner at third the chance to score and the final Caravan lead at 5-4.

After that Munoz settled in and retired the last 15 batters in order after the Halas homerun. Munoz finished the contest with seven innings pitched, seven strikeouts, five hits and one walk.

Mount Carmel advances to the Super Sectional on Monday at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood. The Caravan will take on No. 10 Plainfield North who beat Downers Grove South today to advance.

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