Oak Park knocks off Morton in regional final

For the second consecutive year, Oak Park pounded Morton and pitcher Ryan Crowley -- this time, 10-1 -- to win the Class 4A Morton regional final on Saturday.

In the top of the first inning, Sam Picchiotti singled, stole second and came home on Mike Lacasto’s single to left. Jo Jo Maldonado then reached on an error and when Crowley went to first on a pick-off attempt, Lacasto broke for home and beat the throw.

“We put that play in this week,” Ledbetter said. “When Crowley went to his high leg kicked we wanted the runner to steal home. ... We wanted to be aggressive, get runners on base and throw his timing off.”

In the top of the third, Andrew Godbold cracked a two-run double to left center. In the sixth, the Huskies (24-11) batted around the order. Picchiotti, Maldonado and Jack Picchiotti had RBI singles, Jack Rogalla added a RBI double and two runs came in on errors.

Luke McLeese (8-1) struck out five and gave up seven hits in six innings for the Huskies. Morton finished the season at 24-9.