By Sean Duncan

CHICAGO – When legendary Simeon coach Leroy Franklin says his team is “very very young,” he isn’t exaggerating. In fact, he’s understating his team’s youth. Exactly how young are the baby-faced Wolverines? On Saturday, Simeon’s lineup consisted of four freshmen, three sophomores, one junior and a senior.

But judging by the way Simeon rallied to score four late runs, including two in the bottom of the sixth inning to upend Lane Tech 7-6, you can tell these aren’t your typical freshmen and sophomores. The Wolverines’ come-from-behind victory was part of the inaugural Chicago Public League Baseball Coaches Association North vs. South Challenge, an all-day five-game matchup of Southside against Northside city teams.

“Our team is very very young,” said Franklin. “But we can swing the bats. We always believe we can come back, and those boys won’t quit.”

Simeon (13-4) showed Saturday that its youth movement doesn’t mean the Wolverines are just rebuilding. No, Simeon looks to be one of the favorites to win the Chicago Public League title.

Trailing 6-5 going into the sixth inning, sophomore right fielder Shane Brown singled in junior shortstop Quintin Richardson, who had led off the inning with a single, to tie the game. The lone senior in the Wolverines lineup, Charles Aldridge, followed with a double. Brown was waved home by the third base coach, then told to stop. Brown slipped and appeared as though he was going to be thrown out at third, but an error allowed him to score the game-winning run.

After walking the first batter in Lane’s seventh, freshman right-hander Elbert Dunnigan retired the next three in order to secure the win.

“This feels good,” said Brown, who went 2-for-2 with two RBI and a walk. “Lane is in first place in the conference and we’re in first place the conference. Two first-place teams, we just had to show who wants to win more.”

Simeon also scored twice in the fifth to narrow Lane Tech’s lead to 6-5 on pinch-hitter Malik Simmons’ clutch two-run single. The slick-fielding Richardson went 3-for-4 with a run-scoring single in Simeon’s three-run third. Marshawn Taylor and Darien Clifton, both freshmen, each had two hits, and Blake Hickman, who’s one of the top-ranked sophomores in the state, also had a hit. Hickman, who’s known for his catching prowess, was the starting pitcher. In four innings, he allowed three hits, walked nine and struck out three.