By Drake Skleba

CHICAGO – No. 6 Mount Carmel put together a complete team effort to get past its Catholic Blue rival from St. Rita, defeating the Mustangs 8-5 in a Class 4A Mount Carmel sectional semifinal on Friday.

With the victory, the Caravan (32-5) advance to their own sectional championship game Saturday at 11 at Haggerty Field. Awaiting the Caravan are the defending Class 4A state champions from Lyons Township (24-12-1). In 2011, the Lions defeated the Caravan 4-1 in a Class 4A semifinal game at Silver Cross Field in Joliet. The next day the Lions beat No.1 Providence to win the Class 4A crown.

On Friday, a couple of lefties toed the rubber for each club. Junior Jeremy Kravetz started for the Caravan and sophomore Mike Constanzo opened up for the Mustangs.

Mount Carmel opened the scoring in the bottom of the first on a clutch two-out RBI single from junior Tommy Hayes for a quick 1-0 Caravan lead. St. Rita senior first-baseman Rick Faron tied the game with one swing, as he hammered a solo- shot over the left field fence at 1-1. Mustang junior Connor McClain crushed a clutch two-out RBI double to give the Mustangs a 2-1 lead after an inning and a half.

The Caravan responded with a big four spot in the bottom of the second, finishing the day for Constanzo (7-3). Caravan junior leadoff man Jerry Houston hammered a booming two-run double to give the Caravan the lead they would not relinquish.

“We got the win. We made a lot of errors today but we still came out on top,” said Houston. “Jeremy and Tyler did a great job although today we didn't back them up like we normally do. L.T. is a great team and we will have to play better to advance past them.”

Faron drove home another run in the top of the third with a single and Mount Carmel answered with a run of their own an RBI double from junior Jason Gasser. Faron went deep with a man on in the fifth, for his second homer and drove home his third and fourth runs of the game to bring the Mustangs within one at 6-5.

Catholic League Blue MVP Tony Lawless Award winner Tyler Laurish drove home a big insurance run in the bottom of the fifth to give the Caravan a 7-5 lead. 

In the top of the sixth, Laurish relieved starting and winning pitcher Kravetz (8-1). Kravetz allowed three earned runs in his solid five inning start for the Caravan.

“It was a huge win for us tonight,” said Kravetz. “The entire team executed tonight. I thought I did a decent job on the mound. I left a couple of pitches up to Faron, but other than that I am happy with my performance.”

Laurish mowed down the Mustangs with two hitless innings of relief to nail down his second save of the season. Laurish ended the game with a flourish by striking out the final two Mustang hitters, the first being the mighty Faron.

“Great win for the entire team. It wasn't just one individual but it was an entire team effort,” said Laurish. “I did pretty well on the mound today and my defense did a good job behind me. Pretty good day at the plate. We are really looking forward to playing LT tomorrow.”

St. Rita (24-13) bows out after a fine season for head coach Mike Zunica and his Mustangs.

“I thought we had a hard-fought team win,” said Mount Carmel head coach Brian Hurry. “It's always a battle when Mount Carmel and St. Rita play. Jeremy Kravetz did a fine job for us on the mound.

“It's nice to have a kid like Tyler to go to, to nail down the win for us.”