Prep Baseball Report

Providence Catholic Rallies Late, Defeats Joliet Catholic


By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

On Wednesday afternoon, Joliet Catholic hosted Providence Catholic in a non-conference matchup. A late three-run rally in the top of the sixth inning catapulted the Celtics of Providence Catholic into the lead and a strong relief appearance by Jack Wajda led to a Providence 6-4 victory.

Three straight one-out, RBI singles by Brayden Garrigan, Tyler Young and Cain Headrick (Lewis commit) accounted for the game-changing and game-winning top of the sixth inning for the Celtics. Justin Janowski, a South Suburban commit, led off the frame with one of his two singles on the day and was the first runner to come around to score in the inning. 

Providence (9-6) also tacked on a run in the first, third and fifth inning. A leadoff triple in the third inning by Young, was arguably the hardest hit ball all day; driven to deep right-center field. Young would later come around to score on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Gavin Gomez. Gomez would later deliver the lone run in the fifth, as well, on an RBI single to right field.

The most impressive half inning of the game was junior Jack Wajda’s first inning out of the bullpen for Providence Catholic in the bottom of the fifth inning. Wajda made quick work of the Hilltoppper lineup, striking out all three hitters he faced in the frame, two looking. Wajda attacked with his 85-87 mph and mixed in an above-average, late-biting breaking ball at 74-76 mph. The momentum his one-two-three inning seemed to help spur the rally for the Celtics in the top of the sixth. Wajda ended up going three innings, scattered two hits, one run, none earned, struck out three and did not walk a batter. Of the 60 pitches Wajda threw, 40 landed for strikes. 

Joliet Catholic (5-7) scored a run in each of the first three innings and had the lead for the majority of the game, it seemed. Senior Brody Munch looked locked in all day long at the plate (had two of the 4 RBIs for Joliet Catholic), finishing 2-for-4 with an RBI groundout in the first inning and an RBI in the sixth on a line-drive single back up the middle. 

With the win, Providence Catholic moves to 9-6 on the year and faces Loyola on Thursday at home in a Chicago Catholic League matchup. Joliet Catholic sits at 5-7 and travels to play Coal City on Thursday.

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

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