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Baseball: Providence rallies past runner-up Mundelein

JOLIET — In the distance, well beyond Silver Cross Field's large green wall in center field, a fireworks display emerged in the dark sky Saturday night.

Providence Catholic's fireworks, coincidentally, started about the same time.

Mundelein wasn't enjoying the show. Not after a nightmarish bottom of the fifth inning that saw a 2-run lead turn into a 3-run deficit, as the Celtics sent nine batters to the plate. The Mustangs never recovered, losing 10-3 in the Class 4A state championship game before an announced crowd of 3,981.

“You got a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth in the state championship, you're feeling pretty good,” Mundelein coach Todd Parola said. “You have a lot of thoughts, a lot of memories. A lot of thoughts of ex-players go through your mind.

“Dang,” Parola added, his voice starting to crack, “we just couldn't get it done.”

For Providence (33-9), it was the Celtics' third state title in a row. Mundelein, playing in its first state-championship game, finished 31-10.

Mundelein, which was trying to become the first team from the North Suburban Conference to win a state title, got off to a great start in the top of the first inning. Singles by Nick Stricker and Brendan Murphy and a walk to Reese Dolan loaded the bases. With two out, Drew Breitenreiter's chopper was bobbled, allowing the game's first run to score. Brett Parola followed with a 2-run single. Breitenreiter was thrown out trying to make third to end the inning.

Providence got an unearned back against Mundelein starter Will Michalski in its half of the first, and the Celtics looked like they would tie it up when Matt Waznis hit a deep fly to right field with two on and two out in the third. But Dolan made a leaping catch.

“I think I might have added a little more drama to it,” Dolan said with a smile. “Just a routine catch.”

Providence threatened again in the fourth, as Zack Pych doubled and Jackson Dvorak reached on an infield single to start the inning. Lefty Zach Zentz relieved Michalski and got out of the first-and-second jam thanks to back-to-back called-third strikes and a fielder's-choice groundball.

Like Dolan an inning before, Zentz was mobbed by his teammates as he hustled toward the dugout.

Zentz had a rough fifth, however. Kevin Fitzgerald led off with a single, and then a bunt and throwing error on the same play, put runners on second and third. And it just got worse for Mundelein. Mike Madej (3-for-4, 3 RBI) singled in a run, and then Zentz hit consecutive batters, with the second one driving in the tying run. Dvorak's 2-run single put Providence in front, and a Zentz wild pitch plated the fifth run of the inning.

“He's a really good pitcher,” the Southern Illinois-bound Dolan said of his junior teammate, Zentz. “I think he can be a D-I prospect. I think he's going to come back next year and be a really solid guy. He should keep his head up.”

Providence added 4 more runs in the sixth to put it away.

“Those 2 innings were just horrible,” said Stricker, Mundelein's junior third baseman, who went 3-for-4 with a double. “After those two hit (batters), momentum switched. We just couldn't battle back from that.”

Mundelein committed 3 errors, one on a pickoff attempt, the fifth-inning bunt and the other on a steal of second base.

“It's funny when you get on the big stage,” Todd Parola said. “We really haven't had many throwing errors all year. That's not who we were.”

Mundelein knocked out Providence starting pitcher Connor Hilty in the fourth, but the Mustangs did nothing against lefty Tyler Zarembka, who allowed 1 hit over 3 scoreless innings.

“We faced five good lefties getting to this point,” Todd Parola said. “You got to give (Zarembka) credit.”

Mundelein graduates just five seniors — but key ones in Dolan, shortstop Jake Breitenreiter, left fielder Ryan Fairweather, catcher Reid Rubio and Friday night's hero Zach Zagula.

“All the seniors really brought us together,” Stricker said. “I'm going to miss every single one of them.”

  Mundelein players celebrate a second-place finish after falling short against Providence Catholic during the Class 4A baseball title game Saturday at Silver Cross Field in Joliet. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Mundelein players, led by Reese Dolan, celebrate a second-place state finish after falling to Providence Catholic 10-3 in Class 4A baseball state title game Saturday at Silver Cross Field in Joliet. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Mundelein's Brett Parola is tagged out by Providence Catholic's Jackson Stulas during the Class 4A baseball state title game Saturday at Silver Cross Field in Joliet. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Mundelein pitcher Zach Zentz, left, is congratulated by teammate Brett Parola, right, following his relief work against Providence Catholic in the Class 4A baseball state title game Saturday at Silver Cross Field in Joliet. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Mundelein's Zach Zentz delivers a pitch against Providence Catholic during the Class 4A baseball state title game Saturday at Silver Cross Field in Joliet. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Mundelein pitcher Zach Zentz is upended by Providence Catholic's Zach Pych following a wild pitch in the Class 4A baseball state title game Saturday at Silver Cross Field in Joliet. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Providence Catholic players celebrate a 10-3 win over Mundelein in the Class 4A baseball state championship game Saturday at Silver Cross Field in Joliet. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Providence Catholic players celebrate a 10-3 win over Mundelein in the Class 4A baseball state championship game Saturday at Silver Cross Field in Joliet. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Providence Catholic players celebrate a 10-3 win over Mundelein in the Class 4A baseball state championship game Saturday at Silver Cross Field in Joliet. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Providence Catholic players celebrate a 10-3 win over Mundelein in the Class 4A baseball state championship game Saturday at Silver Cross Field in Joliet. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
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