Kaminska, Redhawks end Celtics' run

Naperville Central celebrates their sectional championship after defeating Providence.
(Corey R. Minkanic/For the Naperville Sun)

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In his four years of varsity baseball at Naperville Central, Pat Kaminska has enjoyed a distinguished career as a pitcher.

On Saturday, however, Kaminska may have branded his most memorable moment at the plate, when he blasted a home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift Naperville Central to a 5-4 victory over Providence in the Class 4A Lockport Sectional championship.

Kaminska's leadoff homer to center field, which was only his second of the year, broke a 4-4 deadlock and sent the RedHawks (24-14) to Monday's supersectional against O'Fallon. Kaminska had three RBI in the game.

"It's an unfamiliar feeling, but it's a great one," said Kaminska, who was a freshman on the Central team that won the state title in 2006. "It's not a typical thing. But I guess a little bit of adrenaline can go a long way."

The game didn't open well for Naperville Central, as 16th-seeded Providence (21-16) jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first. But the RedHawks came right back with three on their own in the first – two on a single by Marc Mantucca – and sophomore starter Dan Ludwig (five innings, two earned runs, four hits, three strikeouts, three walks) settled down shortly after.

Naperville Central took a 4-3 lead into the seventh, but the never-say-die Celtics, who had posted four consecutive comeback victories in the playoffs, scratched a run across on Matt Trowbridge's groundout to tie the game.

"These kids fought so hard," said Providence coach Mark Smith, who started three sophomores and three juniors. "I don't think anyone gave us a chance to start this tournament."