Prep Baseball Report

Providence Catholic Gets Eight Runs In The Seventh, Walk-Off Loyola


By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

NEW LENOX, IL - The Celtics of Providence Catholic made their last inning of a 2018 Chicago Catholic League - Blue Conference game a memorable one on Thursday afternoon. The Celtics scored eight runs without recording an out in the bottom of the seventh inning to walk-off Loyola by a score of 9-8.

The game was all but over heading into the bottom of the seventh. Loyola was leading 8-1 and had been in total control throughout the contest. That all changed in Providence’s final at-bat when 11 straight batters reached base, eight runs were scored, the final one being driven in by senior Ryan Kaup (Wabash Valley JC commit) on a single to right field with the game tied at eight. In the eight run frame, Providence (16-12) collected five hits and walked or were hit by a pitch six times. The two biggest swings of the inning, other than Kaup’s walk-off single were two, two-run doubles to the opposite field by Logan Anderson (South Suburban JC commit) and Alex Helmin (Arizona State commit).

Loyola (15-9-1) jumped out to a commanding 8-0 lead after the fourth inning. The Ramblers of Loyola put up four runs in the top of the third and four more in the fourth. The two biggest hits in the third were back-to-back run-scoring singles by Trey Torain (George Washington commit) and Henry Haracz (John Carroll commit). Cleanup hitter, Jason Vrbancic (University of Chicago) delivered the key hit in the fourth, a shot over the left-field wall for a grand slam with two outs. The big blast put the Ramblers up 8-0 at the time.

Jake Novak, who hits in the three-hole for Loyola also got the start on the mound. The junior left-hander twirled five solid innings for the Ramblers and was in position for the win before the crazy bottom of the seventh. Novak scattered seven hits, one earned run, struck out one and walked three. The left-handed hitter also went 1-for-3 with a double at the plate.

Kaup and Anderson led the way at the plate for Providence Catholic. Kaup finished the day 3-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI. Anderson finished 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI’s and a run scored.

For more in-depth notes from the game - and all other games that we cover - visit the Illinois Scout Blog later.

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