Houlihan, Potempa step up big for Providence

Updated: May 2, 2011 9:18PM

Providence slugger Sam Travis is a fear factor to opposing teams. Teams have pitched carefully to Travis but in doing so have given the players surrounding him in the lineup some good pitches to hit.

Joe Houlihan and Dan Potempa took advantage of that situation in leading No. 4 Providence to a 10-3 victory over Brother Rice in a Catholic League Blue game in New Lenox.

``It helps a lot to be batting in front of Sam,’’ Houlihan said. ``He gets in other team’s minds because he is the best hitter in the state. I see a lot of fastballs because of that.’’

The Celtics (19-2, 8-2) did most of its damage in the first two innings. Trailing 2-0 after a half inning, Providence immediately went to work in taking the lead for good. Kevin DeFilippis started things off with a double to deep left field and was soon joined on base by Houlihan and his base hit.

Travis followed Houlihan and worked a full count before being walked. Potempa made the Crusaders (8-8, 5-3) pay with a sacrifice fly to left field. The Celtics quickly tied the game at two when Travis and Houlihan pulled off a double steal. Dan Wetzel gave the Celtics a 3-2 lead when his base hit drove in Travis.

``Batting behind [Travis] helps me,’’ Potempa said. ``It’s fun watching him put on a show in front of you.’’

The Celtics put the game away with a six-run second inning. Houlihan hit a three-run homer and after another walk to Travis. Potempa followed with a home-run to right-center field that drove in Travis and himself. The hit to the opposite field was a suresign to Potempa that he has beaten a recent slump.

``I’ve been working with coach Drew [Carlton] on staying through the ball,’’ Potempa said. ``I had a fastball on the outer-half and that was a big weakness before for me.’’

For the day, Travis was 0-for-2 but the Celtics demonstrated that they are deep team. Nick Gould finished the game 2-for-2 with a homer and a double from the eighth spot in the order.

``Gould has been swing the ball well lately,’’ Providence coach Mark Smith said. ``We need production from the bottom of the order. We can’t be top-heavy.’’

Matt Trowbridge went six innings and record nine stikeouts while allowing three runs.

Garrett O’Neil touched Trowbridge with a two-run shot and Ryan Koziol added a solo blast in the third inning to account for the Crusaders runs.

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