New season, same resilient Illinois Patriots 14U
Mother Nature proved to be the biggest early season obstacle for Illinois Patriots 14U as the reloaded squad started 2019 with a three-game win streak.
Rain and snow wiped out a handful of scheduled games, including the Patriots first tournament, but IP weathered extended gaps in action through most of April to build up a division lead in the West Suburban Baseball League.
Patriots 14U features a core of players who won a division title at 13U and the fall championship in WSBL play last year. The new additions give IP greater depth and more offensive threats. They've also fit right in with the resilient style established by the 2018 Patriots, who registered 20 comeback wins between the summer and fall seasons.
That never-say-die attitude was on full display in an exciting 11-8 road win over the Roselle Renegades on April 24. The Patriots held a 5-1 lead in the fourth inning on the strength of a Mikey Clingingsmith sacrifice fly, Micah Giovenco's two-run single, a Marcello Lanzi RBI single and a Roselle miscue.
The Renegades didn't quit, tallying seven runs combined in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to lead 8-7 heading into the top of the seventh. Dixon Wagner, Ryne Campana and Clingingsmith each reached to load the bases with one out before an Andrew Rossini single knotted the game 8-8. Giovenco stroked a line drive to center to put IP up 9-8. A pair of passed balls allowed two more runs to score. Campana worked a scoreless bottom of the seventh to earn the save in relief of Isaiah Ortiz (1-0) who was the winning pitcher.
One night earlier against FCA Impact Maroon, things weren't as dramatic as the Patriots trailed 3-0 after an inning before cruising to a 10-3 win in its first game after a 10-day break. IP managed only five hits, but drew nine walks and two batters were hit by pitches. Clingingsmith drove in a pair, while Nathan Emro, James Valentinas and Aaron Ryniec each picked up an RBI as part of a well-balanced offensive attack.
On the mound, winning pitcher Rossini (2-0) worked out of a first-inning jam as he, Campana and Clingingsmith limited FCA to just one hit over seven innings.
The season opened April 13 with the first meeting between Roselle and IP. The Patriots worked through opening-game nerves to overcome a quick one-run deficit after the first inning by scoring in the next five frames for an eventual 12-2 victory.
Wagner, who had three hits, tied the game with an RBI single in the second inning. A deep, two-run double to center by Giovenco (three RBI) plated Josh Wilder and John Kaiser to put IP in the lead. Wilder and Clingingsmith (one RBI each), Kaiser (two RBI) and Rossini (three RBI) helped put the game out of reach.
"It would have been understandable for us to lose any of these three games given all the time off we've had, so the boys deserve a ton of credit for getting the job done," Head Coach Mike Giovenco said. "And, our best baseball is ahead of us."
The Patriots, affiliated with Palatine-based Dream Big Athletics, will go through another 10-day break before its next game on May 4 against the Elmhurst Explosion.