Providence escapes Benet in regional final

Updated: May 28, 2011 6:12PM

Providence ace Matt Trowbridge was nearly outpitched Saturday by a Benet senior known more for his play as his team’s starting shortstop.

“I’m an infielder,” Nick Moore said. “I try to pitch the ball over the plate hoping they will hit the ball to my fielders.”

Benet threatened a few times, even loading the bases in the seventh inning, but the ninth-seeded Redwings couldn’t score against second-seeded Providence, the top-ranked team by YourSeason.com. The Celtics claimed their second victory of the season over Benet, winning 3-0 in the Class 4A Benet Regional final.

Providence won its 16th regional title and its fifth regional championship in the last five years. The Celtics will meet third-seeded Neuqua Valley, a 7-3 winner over Lockport, in the Neuqua Valley Sectional semifinal at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

The Central Michigan-bound Trowbridge (7-0), a 5-11, 170-pound left-hander, threw 111 pitches, but could not complete the game. He came out after getting one out in the top of the seventh, but allowed two walks in the inning. Trowbridge and fellow left-hander Collin McEnery, who picked up the save, combined on the shutout.

Trowbridge gave up three hits, walked five and struck out four batters.

“Overall, Matt Trowbridge got tired,” Providence coach Mark Smith said. “He battled through and got us through it.”

Providence won for the second time at Benet (18-19) after beating the Redwings 3-1 on April 9 as part of the South Side Conference Challenge. The Catholic League Blue champions also avenged last year’s regional final loss to Naperville North, 7-6.

Losing in last year’s regional final provided plenty of motivation for the Celtics Saturday.

“I was just trying to go out there and throw strikes and let my defense take care of it,” Trowbridge said.

The Celtics (33-3) will play Neuqua Valley for the second time in three years in a sectional final. Providence won 4-3 in 2009.

Providence scored its first two runs, both unearned, in the third inning off Moore (0-5). Trowbridge reached second to lead off the inning on a throwing error. He was replaced by courtesy runner Branden Boggetto. Dan Wetzel was hit by a pitch and then Kevin DeFilippis sacrificed both runners into third and second.

With Sam Travis at the plate and two out, Boggetto scored on a wild pitch from Moore and then DeFilippis came across when catcher Matt Dorsett committed an error on his throw to the plate to get out Boggetto.

The Celtics picked up another run in the fifth on Travis’ RBI single to score DeFilippis from second base.

Moore, who hit a grand slam earlier Saturday in a 12-0 five-inning win over Hinsdale South, was at the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the seventh. He ended the game with a force out at second base.

Moore threw 119 pitches, 65 for strikes, while going the distance. He allowed only three hits and three walks while striking out eight.

“It was a really fun season,” said Moore, who was among five senior starters to play his final game. “These guys kept it loose.”

“Nick gave us everything you can ask us to give,” Benet coach Jeff Bonebrake said. “He kept it exciting.”

Benet’s other starting seniors were R.J. Gatto, Andrew Jachna, Zac Lewinski and Dorsett.

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