Lockport

You'll have to ask the IHSA people.

Lots of teams in that regional would be competitive in any state competition.

That is a good question

Anthony Holman is a Lockport alum.

Fungo,

My sources tell me that is exactly why they are in the Bloom regional...because that's what they wanted and they are connected enough to get it. It would be a shame if they didn't make it past the Bloom regional.

Hs...The better question to be asked is why they are not playing Bloom in the first game since Bloom was in their bracket initially.

BTIL, Actually I think HSDad's question is more appropriate. Could it be that this is just an extension, of sorts, that we've seen in the Sun Times Top 25 2005's that is almost totally, but not exclusively, biased to the south and southwest suburbs. If you think that this list mirrors a PG list, for example, you'd be mistaken. Every list maker, every tournament bracket maker has his/her favorites. No one should believe that this list of the best 25 is any more conclusive than someone else's list. Also, no one should believe that tournament pairings are done without regard to past relationships and possible favors owed.

Excellent points, its.

Crete beats Bloom twice in the regular season but gets a lower seed than Bloom in that regional so Lockport draws Crete for the first game. Bloom has the best pitcher in that bracket with Ruiz who Bloom will likely have to use against LW Central in their first game. Bloom can be a very tough team with Ruiz on the hill but become pretty ordinary without him. But just like the Bloom regional last year, you never know what's going to happen until you play the games. Lockport could not have asked for a better regional scenario than what they "drew". Should be a cake walk for the Porters with all of their highly ranked players.

HS...Their strength is Mitidero and Christiansen. Don't pitch to Mit with men in scoring position...same thing with Christiansen. Better to walk them than to have them hit a 2-run double! Make the other players beat you. Make sure "mousey" hits the ball to get on base. That kid alone can create "havoc".

Can run a little bit against them since their pitchers don't help Mit.

Can't say any one of their pitchers stood out when we played them.

They've just been ordinary after a 12-0 start.

BTIL,

Thanks for the scouting report. We'll have to bring an "A" defensive effort to hang in there. If our bats get going, we can hit with anyone so you never know. Lockport has had people at a couple of our games so they know what we have and don't have. Somehow, we usually play well against good teams (and bad against bad teams).

4-1 crete beat tf south today. zegaric came in for 2 or 3 innings and not very impressive at all. we tried out our lockport defense today and it sure seem to work against the #3 ranked by the times. anyone have any suggestions on any weaknesses they see in lockport?

pitcher2,

Zegarac pitched 1 1/3 and walked 4 with 1K. It just seemed like he was in there longer. It was a good win for Crete and they played very good defense which is what they have to do on Saturday. Lockport coach was in attendance for the first part of the game, are they starting to pay attention?

Pitcher2,

Nice job closing.

Lockport's pitching will be their downfall, along with what TRatco said....but maybe not...
this should be an interesting ride...Good Luck
to all teams...

not to be cocky on cretes half of all this, but if they throw just some medioaker pitcher against us and under estimate our hitting like hf did last year they have another one comming. many of you knew the names last year of cresto murchek and oyoung but this year our lineup is stronger and a lot younger. we have over 20 homeruns as a team and that is with a prodominate 05 class that has been over looked because of the "great" lockport. im not coming out saying crete will win this game but if it turns out to be a battle of the sticks will become victorious just like last year against the 11-0 brigleson from hf.

Lockport beat Hinsdale South last night, Lockport has a real good team, but the thing that suprised me was how the dugout would yell real loud when one of our player's sturck out," HE's GONE" even the Pa annoucer yelled it over the Pa system, Plus they even had a bud light radio commercial inbetween innings ,
Was very sad to see a great team act so bush league, thought the coach was better than that to let that happen.

Pitcher2, what is Crete's record this year?

From what I have seen of Lockport they have 6 or 7 good pitchers who are all comparable to each other. They are all probably good # 1 or real good # 2 pitchers but I'm not sure they have anyone that is real dominant or a lock to shut down a good team.
They have lots of depth but can be beat if you can control/walk Mitidiero and Christensen.

Crete has clawed their way back to 14-14 after a pretty rocky start. Like pitcher2 mentioned, most of the team are 05's and the lack of varsity experience showed early in the season. We have only one 04 starter on the team. Lockport has a lot of 05's too but a lot of them were starters last year and ours were not. It should be a good game and hopefully Crete will make a good showing of themselves either way.

Does anyone know how Lockport reacts when a tema gets an early decent lead on them? Obviously they have a record that shows they still play all 7 innings, but at any point has anyone seen them get quiet and lay over at all?

Quiet is not a word that I would EVER use for Lockport Baseball. If you get an early lead, the coaching staff goes bonkers. When Stagg played their first game against them, we took the lead in the bottom of the 1st. Pitching coach was yelling from the dugout and then on the mound. Kid threw 3 balls after that. I have seen Coach Hall scream across the field when our pitcher was in his windup. Now thats bushleague.

So. Lets see, if what I read here is accurate, Lockport hitters are reputed to get credited with a hit every time they reach base on a batted ball. Coach Hall screams at opposing pitchers and Coach Hall doesn't allow his players to play travel in the summer? He obviously is doing something right or is he just lucky that Homer and Upper Deck have enriched his program with experienced talented kids that already know the game?

sox...A very good coach with talented players is how I would describe Hall and Lockport.

Just like Phil Jackson...sure he has talented players, but so do many other coaches. Difference, however is that Jackson WINS!

HALL WINS! Definitely a worthy opponent on the other side of the diamond. Great assistant coaches and fathers that give selflessly to help the program. I don't necessarily agree with some of his "methods", but HE WON'T GIVE AWAY GAMES LIKE SOME OTHER COACHES DO!!!!

There is no doubt that the 05's are an extremely talented group of young men. They have been successful athletes since they were 7 and 8 year olds. The feeder programs are the key to Lockports' success. The 05's knew how to play before thay got there. Keeping the 05's together and their recruitment was a major coup for LTHS. Hall is a multifaceted coach. There are several sides, some are easily observed while others are only seen by a few. His baseball knowledge is extensive, he has ownership in his program. He is also a master of his own PR, the consumate politician when an opportunity presents itself. While some of his players " would go through a wall" for him, others would run him down if they saw him crossing the street. He has helped some, while attempting to destroy others. Several have succeeded in spite of him. It comes down to Ego, Control, and Credit. Sometimes you need to see both sides.

Bottom line on this is that compared to the norm a kid would be lucky to have him as coach. Kinda like Tom Matsie at a different level!

Final score from Bloom regional - Lockport 7, Crete 5. Well played game, could have gone either way on a couple of very close calls.

Seenboth,

Good points on your post. I also know that LTHS has lost alot of talent to Providence and JCA in the past. If Hall has coups to keep talent then more power to him. I don't know the story about the '05s, but I'm sure something was done to woo the kids to the public school. Seeing Chris Michalick (sp) and many others go to the private school eats me alive and I'm sure it does to coach Hall.

Again, all I can say is that I busted my rear for him and he still does for me to this day.

I am confused why seeing Chris Michalak go to Joliet Catholic eats you alive. Chris made a choice that he and his family felt was in his best interest.

What is Chris up to these days?

Chris is currently with Indianapolis, the Brewers AAA team. He has been up and down for the last few years. He is one of 3 pitchers from JC's 87 basball team to play in the major leagues.

Chris is a great kid and is from a great family also from the Homer Glen area.