Tale of two (very different) programs

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From a historical perspective, the two high-school baseball programs are at opposite ends of the scale.

At one end, you have Carmel, which is the standard-bearer for everything positive about the sport in our area.

The school hasn't had a losing season since before any member of the current Carmel team was born, and if you strung the plaques Carmel earned for winning conference, regional and sectional titles end-to-end, it would probably reach from the school in Mundelein all the way up to Lake Villa.

Which, of course, is where Lakes High is located.

This is the just the third season that Lakes has fielded a baseball team, as the school split off from Antioch High a few years ago.

And when the Eagles won a Class 3A regional title last Saturday, it marked the FIRST regional title for the school in the sport.

By contrast, Carmel has now won 11 -- 1988, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008.

That title differential, however, won't mean a thing on Wednesday when both Carmel and Lakes return to action with sectional-semifinal contests.

Because, believe it or not, Lakes -- just 18-14 overall and an also-ran in the North Suburban Conference Prairie Division pennant race -- is in a better spot to advance than are the 30-5 Corsairs.

That's because Lakes will play unheralded Crystal Lake Central in the IHSA Class 3A sectional at Grayslake Central High, while Carmel must battle powerful Highland Park in the Class 4A sectional at Libertyville High.

Such is the luck of the draw.

CL Central did Lakes a huge favor by upsetting the top seed in the Grayslake Central -- Huntley -- in the regional finals.

Carmel got no such help. Highland Park won the rugged Central Suburban League North Division pennant, and the Giants are this area's top offensive club.

If Carmel is to live to play for the sectional title on Saturday, it will need to be at its best today.