Travis' streak ends, but Celtics roll on

Updated: March 28, 2011 9:38AM

It was bound to happen sooner or later but Sam Travis finally made an out. The Providence third baseman started off the season a perfect 9-for-9 before finally making an out in his last at-bat Wednesday.

Travis did do plenty of damage in his first three at bats as he led the Celtics to a 6-1 victory over Lemont in New Lenox.

``He is human after all,'' Providence coach Mark Smith said. ``I was asking him if that ball was even fair. He just gave me a little smile.''

The Indiana-bound senior grounded into a double play in his last at-bat on a ball that was hit down the third-base line. The ball led Lemont's Mike Hall right to the bag, which he stepped on to start the double play. But that's about all that Travis did wrong.

In his first at-bat, he put the Celtics (3-0) ahead 2-1 when he smoked a double to left field off of Lemont starter Collin Bogetto. That hit drove in Kevin DeFilippis and Brady Wilkin.

``I go up there with the same plan just like everyone else,'' Travis said. ``I think middle of the plate and just let the hands go to work.''

Providence never gave up its lead and tacked on runs in the second and third inning. DeFilippis doubled to drive in Branden Bogetto in the second. DeFilippis fulfilled his leadoff role by reaching base in three of his four times up.

Clean-up hitter Dan Potempa hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Travis in the third and then the duo hit back-to-back homers in the fifth that chased Bogetto from the game. It was Travis's third homer of the young season.

``This game told us exactly where we are as a team.'' Smith said. ``This is the first team we faced with good velocity. That is a very good team over there.''

Lemont (1-1) jumped ahead early after Gio Schmidt walked and came around on an errant throw to first when Josh Ferry grounded into a fielder's choice. The Indians' patience at the plate helped chase Providence starter Dominic Quaranta from the game after he walked the first two batters of the second inning.

Zak Kutsulis came in to quell the threat and get out of the inning. Kutsulis pitched scoreless baseball until he gave way to flame thrower Brandon Magallones to start the fifth. The Northwestern-bound senior recorded six strikeouts over the final three innings.

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