Under the lights at beautiful Brooks Academy Field on Saturday night, May 19 it was the Whitney Young Dolphins getting the Big Time Win over Clemente in the Semifinal Playoffs 10-5. Young now advances to the CPL City Championship Game which will be played on Monday. The prize is getting the privilege to play at Wrigley Field in another Big Time game versus Lane Tech.
Young scored the first run of the game to take a 1-0 lead, however Marvin Sanchez of Clemente answered the bell hitting a first pitch home run off of Young's starter Jim Clement in the bottom of the 1st inning which quickly tied the game. At the end of the first inning of play Clemente was leading 4-1. Clemente however, scored their only other run in the 2nd inning when Sanchez crossed the plate one more time again.
However, it was in the 5th inning that Young really came alive and pounded out 7 Hits in a huge 9 Run, 5th inning surge to overtake Clemente who had been leading the game 5-1, and were looking very much to be the team in control. But in the fifth, Clemente struggled mightily to find an answer as a torrent of hits began. A large Young fan turnout cheered the Dolphins on urging them to continue the rally. Clemente made 2 pitching changes in an inning that never seemed to end!
In the bottom of the 6th inning, the winning pitcher James Coleman (D-1 prospect) showed his tenacity getting out of a bases loaded jam and shutting the door on Clemente. A key strike out with the bases loaded got the second out followed by a 6-4 play stopped Clemente from scoring and ended the inning. Coleman was the Winning Pitcher and Max Freidman made an appearance, coming in to pitch with one out in the 7th inning, recording two K's to get the final two outs. In the final analysis James Coleman was absolutely stellar, pitching 4.1 pressure cooker innings while allowing No Runs and No Hits and recording 9-K's, 5-BB's and 1 HBP.
Congratulations to the entire Whitney Young Coaching staff. The baseball program is on a roll and heading upwards as the Young Sophomores advanced to the CPL City Championship earlier in the day and will face Lane Tech. The Young Junior Varsity is going for a three peat in the CPL Sophomore City Championship series. However, the real Capstone was the Varsity team getting their Big Time win to advance to play Lane on Monday at Wrigley Field and will be making their second appearance in the CPL Championship!
This game had many Big Time highlights, but this observer notes that the two big ESPN Replays came during the 5th inning when the Designated Hitter, Elliott Greenhill hit a blast into center field which was shortly followed by Valmer Jordan's Big Time Homerun which was a 375 shot over the left center field fence. Clemente struggled to find an answer to Young's onslaught, however by the time they got the first out in the inning, 8 runs had already crossed the plate.
A key defensive highlight came in the bottom of the 5th inning when Pedro Rosa quickly reacted to a deep hit to center field which he snared, recording the second out of the inning. This play was key to stopping a Clemente run from being posted to the scoreboard.
Also in the scorebook with Big Time Hits were Joe Frahm who was 2 for 4 with 2-Singles (2-RBI); Julian Kenner 2 for 4 with 2-Singles (RBI); Troy Wright 2 for 4 with 2-Doubles (RBI); Jim Clement 2 for 4 with Double and a Single; Eric Fone-Single.
Young scored 10 Runs on 11 Hits and 3 E's. Clemente scored 5 Runs on 5 Hits and 4 E's.
Game time is Monday at 2:00 pm. Admission and parking are free!
See you at Wrigley Field! If you will be rooting for Young wear your Blue and Orange!
Original Post