Lemont closes in on SSC title

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When Lemont was eliminated by Joliet Catholic in the Class 3A regional championship game last season, Indians coach Joe Rodeghero produced three goals for this season: Earn the No. 4 seed in the playoffs, which would help his team avoid an early showdown with JCA, win a conference championship, and claim a regional title.

The Indians have conquered the first two goals; time will tell if a regional title will produce the trifecta.

Lemont put itself in prime position to earn at least a share of the South Suburban Conference championship with a 20-5 thumping of Bremen in Midlothian on Wednesday.

All the Indians (12-3 in the conference) need to do is defeat a struggling Hillcrest club Thursday and a piece of the SSC title is theirs. Lemont can win the championship outright if Oak Forest (also 12-3) loses to Shepard Thursday.

"We're two-for-two with one goal remaining," said Rodeghero, whose team improved to 14-9 overall. "We need to take care of business (Thursday) and we'll get a share of the title. The kids have done a nice job of staying focused on the prize."

The Indians registered 19 hits on the afternoon, including four home runs.

Kyle Cyr blasted a pair of three-run home runs, while Josh Ferry provided another three-run dinger and Mike Dvorak added a two-run shot.

"I don't consider anybody a home-run hitting team," Rodeghero said. "We play in a park that is much bigger than this one. The kids were looking too much at the home run today. I told them to look for the line drive. That's what we do best."

What began with much promise for Bremen quickly evaporated on Senior Day.

Braves coach Mike Cline honored his seniors by starting a 2009 graduate at each position.

The Braves (13-14, 3-11) led 2-0 after one inning. Andy Fitzpatrick ripped a two-run double down the right-field line to score Mark Castillo (walk) and Bobby Fitzpatrick (hit by pitch) in the first.

The score stayed that way until the top of the third. That's when the roof caved in on Bremen.

Lemont scored six runs in the third, two in the fourth, three in the fifth and nine in the sixth.

At that point it was 20-2.

"We caught Bremen on a bad day," Rodeghero said. "The first couple of innings we were hitting the ball hard and I just told the guys to keep swinging the bats."

Bremen's defense did not provide much help to a pitching staff that marched six different arms to the mound. The Braves committed four errors and botched at least two routine fly balls.

That¹s the last thing the Braves staff needed with a stiff breeze blowing directly out.

Every starter in Lemont's lineup recorded a hit, with Cyr (4-for-5) falling a triple shy of the cycle.

Kevin Goergen, Greg Mrozek, Ryan Ferry, Josh Ferry, Mark Kornacker, Nick Lawrence and Dvorak recorded two hits apiece. Winning pitcher Matt Green went five innings, scattering six hits and one walk. He struck out nine, including four looking.

Besides Andy Fitzpatrick, who recorded two doubles, the other bright spot for Bremen was Sean Duggan, who smacked a two-run double in the sixth.