By Drake Skleba

NEW LENOX – No. 3 Providence took all of the drama out of the highly anticipated pitching matchup between the Celtics’ Notre Dame-bound Zak Kutsulis and Lincoln-Way East right-hander Mark Chemello. Scoring four times in the first inning, Providence went on to roll to a 10-2 victory and win the Class 4A Providence Regional championship.

The first four Celtics hit safely against the St. Joseph College-bound Chemello (8-2), highlighted by the red-hot Kenny King's two-run, bases-loaded single. The clutch hit scored Bradley University-bound Brady Wilkin and University of Arizona-bound first baseman Ryan Koziol, who had both singled. The Celtics (29-7) would pick up an RBI on a grounder off the bat of Southeast Missouri State-bound shortstop Brandon Boggetto (1-for-3 2 RBI) and add a fourth run on a Griffin miscue.

The Koziol-King-Boggetto trio would strike again in the third. Koziol led off the third with a single, stole second - one of six Celtic thefts - and scored on a booming RBI double from King.

“Great to win our last game here at Providence. We really came out ready to play,” said King. “I'm very relaxed at the plate and seeing the ball well. The whole team is really hitting the ball. Zak pitched a great game as he has all year for us. We will be ready to play against Marist on Wednesday. It should be a great game.”

King would score on an RBI single from Boggetto and Boggetto would score on another Griffin miscue. In the bottom of the fourth, Kutsulis (3-for-4, 2 RBI) helped himself with a two-run single, scoring Wilkin (2-for-4, 2 R, 2 SB) and Koziol (2-for-3, 3 R, BB).

“Zak threw strikes and went after hitters and as we wanted our bats got after them early,” said Koziol. “I was just trying to hit the ball hard and get it in play. Mark is a good pitcher and I am very happy with my performance today. Feels good to win the regional, but we want more.”

Lincoln-Way East (21-13) picked up an unearned run against Kutsulis in the top of the fifth. Kutsulis (7-2) scattered six hits in five solid innings of work and the run he allowed was unearned.

“We swung the bats well. When we swing the bats we are a tough team to beat,” said Kutsulis. “I threw the ball well today. My four pitches were really working for me. Everything was working for me at the plate as well.”

Lincoln-Way East had two-hit days from seniors Kevin Slawkowski, Dylan Pinto and junior Tommy Fuessel.

Providence will meet Marist (25-11) at 4:30 on Wednesday May 30 in a Class 4A Andrew Sectional semifinal. Marist blasted Andrew 11-0 to win the Class 4A Richards Regional Championship.

“The boys swung the bats well today. They beat a very good pitcher,” said Providence head coach Mark Smith. “To put four runs in the first inning was a great help for Zak on the mound today. Kenny King continues to do his job as our cleanup man. Zak pounded the zone and pitched well for us. We'll have our hands full on Wednesday with a very good Marist ball club.”