Sports
Oak Lawn Looks to End Baseball Regional Title Drought
Despite being close the last two seasons, the Spartans still are seeking first title in school history and the task won't come easy with St. Laurence looming next.
Get this: The Oak Lawn baseball team never has won a regional title. The Spartans will get another chance at doing so at noon Saturday against highly touted St. Laurence.
“We have come close the last couple of years,” Spartan coach Brian Clifton said. “We are hoping this is finally the year we do it.”
The matchup with the Vikings will be tough, and the Spartans will have to play close to a perfect game, something they did not do despite taking down Marian Catholic 6-2 in Friday's regional semifinal.
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The Spartans took advantage of some poor play by Marian Catholic defeated in the fifth inning. Marian committed five errors and Oak Lawn scored five runs to overturn a 2-1 deficit.
The Spartans committed three errors of their own and they know the Vikings might not commit one error. So, they can’t afford to have any miscues if they hope to play with St. Laurence.
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Trailing 2-1 in the fifth, the Spartans were playing small ball in an attempt to tie the game. After Tony Swistek reached on an error, Steve Childers bunted him over to second despite having two strikes on him.
“Normally I don’t try to bunt with two strikes,” Childers said. “But I have been struggling seeing the ball and wasn’t hitting very well, so getting the bunt down helped the rally.”
Little things like that are going to be needed to beat a team the caliber of the Vikings. Two years ago, the Spartans lost a heartbreaker to St. Laurence in the regional finals in eight innings.
“We can do it," Alex Krupa said. "Two years ago, we were in the same spot and didn’t do it. But this year we have a lot of team chemistry."
Last year, the Spartans lost in the final at-bat to Lincoln-Way East in the regional semifinals.
“We have worked hard all season, and we are very excited and going to give it a good try,” Bob Kametas said.
Kametas was solid on the mound in his win over Marian Catholic, and the Spartans are going to need another solid pitching performance against the Vikings. The semifinal victory improved Oak Lawn's record to 20-14.
The next win would be No. 21. And the Spartans would like nothing more than to make school history.
“If we can hit and get some pitching, are guys are confident,” Clifton said.
