Jennings’ slam gives Joliet West a win

Updated: April 29, 2011 11:51PM

In a game of big hits and see-saw lead changes, no hit was bigger than the one Scott Jennings had. The Joliet West slugger crushed a grand-slam to help lead the Tigers to an 11-9 victory over Lincoln-Way Central in a SouthWest Suburban Blue slugfest.

With the game tied at 7, the Tigers (10-4-1, 3-2) had the bases loaded but also had two outs in the sixth inning. Jennings sat on a first-pitch, fastball and connected on a long home-run over the left field fence for an 11-7 lead. Jennings guessed right on the pitch from watching the previous at-bat.

``I was looking for the first pitch to be a fastball all the way,’’ Jennings said. ``[Lincoln-Way Central pitcher Tom Schuman] gave Mike Grindstaff a fastball on the first pitch. So, I figured he would do the same to me.’’

Jennings had been slumping lately and was 0-for-2 with a walk before his big hit. The ball traveled well over the left-field fence.

``Scott has been struggling but he is probably the strongest guy on our team,’’ Joliet West coach John Karczewski said. ``He can hit it all of 400 or 450 feet. That ball was at least 60 feet over the fence.’’

While Jennings’ hit may have been the decider, the game saw eight ties or lead changes and several big hits. The Tigers looked like they might be in control of the game by taking a 7-4 lead during a four-run, fifth inning.

Damon Softcheck scored his second run of the game and was followed to home plate by Jeff Gersch, Matt Koran and Wes A’Hern, who also had an RBI. Trey Martin picked up one of his two RBI for the game. Grindstaff had a two-hit, two-RBI game and Tom Sears drove in a run with a single in the fifth inning.

``This game was like a heavyweight fight,’’ Karczewski said. ``Damon is one of the best in the area. He can run, hit and field. Trey is a fearsome hitter. The lefty on lefty matchup didn’t faze him at all.’’

Central (9-9-1, 1-4) didn’t show any quit late in the game. The Knights came back to tie the game at seven after scoring three runs in the sixth. Leadoff hitter Jack Krull scored one of his three runs in the inning while getting on base four times in the game.

Lucas Jones scored after drawing a walk and Tyler Gellinger scored a run and had an RBI in the inning.

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