By Drake Skleba

 

NEW LENOX - If the rest of the WJOL 5^th Annual Area Invite is as exciting as this opening round game between No. 8 Providence and Lincoln-Way Central was, the fans in the Joliet-area are in for a fun-filled Saturday.

 

With the score deadlocked at one in the bottom of the eighth, Providence junior RHP/3B Sam Travis launched a rocket into the night that sailed over the centerfield fence for a game-winning two-run blast. The monster home run gave No. 8 Providence a thrilling 3-1 come-from behind win over valiant Lincoln-Way Central and its gutty starting pitcher, Lewis-bound Tom Helwich (7.1 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 3 ER, 9K, 2 BB).

 

“What a great feeling,” said an ecstatic Travis. “I missed a fastball on the pitch before but I really hit the next pitch hard. What a huge win for us. Both teams battled so hard.”

 

It was the third hit of the game for Travis. Helwich allowed five hits on the night. Celtic junior first baseman Collin McEnery had the other two, including a first-inning double.

 

Travis put his name in the winning pitcher column, too. The hard-throwing junior was tough in three shutout innings of relief of Celtic starting pitcher and fellow junior Matt Trowbrige. Travis (1-0) allowed one hit and fanned three and walked three.

 

“What an awesome game,” said Trowbridge. “I pitched really well tonight. We are really happy we will be able to play at Silver Cross on Saturday. Hopefully we will play in the Championship game at 4:30.”

 

In a game where the Celtics were the home team at L-W Central, Trowbridge and Helwich were dominant through four innings. Helwich had given up two hits to Travis and McEnery and Trowbridge was working on a no-hitter through four.

 

In the L-W Central fifth, the Knights picked up their first hit off Trowbridge and an unearned run to take a 1-0 lead.

 

Trowbridge (5 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 ER, 6 K, 2 BB) struck out the first two Knight hitters he faced. Knight first baseman Evan Branyik coaxed a four-pitch walk from Trowbridge. Knight third baseman Jim Watson ripped a single to right, where the Celtic rightfielder bobbled the shot for an error. Branyik was waved around third by L-W Central head coach Sean Bieterman and slid in safely at the plate for the first run of the game.

 

The Travis-McEnery duo struck again in the top of the seventh. Travis and McEnery singled to start the inning. Celtic senior third baseman Kevin Davis laid down a beautiful sac-bunt to move up the runners. Junior PH Dom Olsta was intentionally walked to load the bases. Helwich disposed of PH Sean Carroll on strikes. With Trowbridge at the plate Helwich unleashed a wild pitch, scoring Travis with the tying run. Helwich avoided further damage and the game went to the eighth.

 

Travis knocked down the Knights in order in the top of the eighth.

 

In the Providence eighth with one out, senior SS Joe Houlihan coaxed a walk from Helwich. Moments later, everyone was heading for the exits as Sam Travis gave himself a win on the mound and a 10 o’clock date,Saturday, with the Lockport Porters (3-2) at Plainfield South, which crushed Plainfield Central 16-4, Thursday afternoon.

 

“What a great game,” said Providence head coach Mark Smith. “There should not have been a loser in this game. Both teams battled to the end. Sam Travis really hit the heck out of the ball tonight. He did a great job on the mound to pick up the win. Matt Trowbridge did everything we asked of him.”

 

Lincoln-Way Central suffers their first defeat after five wins. The Knights will play Lincoln-Way West tomorrow and Plainfield Central, in the consolation round of the WJOL Area Invite, on Saturday. Providence improves to 5-2 on the season.

 

“We pitched well and played great defense tonight.” said Bieterman. “Two great teams battled all night.”