Baseball: Not just another ballgame for Westmont, Lisle
On a day honoring Charlie Donovan, Westmont's baseball team paid tribute in the best possible way.
The Sentinels were victorious.
Westmont beat host Lisle 8-3 in Tuesday's Interstate Eight Conference matchup, but the afternoon took on meaning well beyond baseball.
Lions coach Pete Meyer, assistant Jason Wiertel and the entire team honored Donovan, last season's Daily Herald DuPage County All-Area Baseball Captain and Gatorade Player of the Year who passed away in November.
Both teams wore jerseys designed in memory of Donovan. Everyone wore Donovan's trademark No. 0 and all the jerseys had “Donovan” on the back. Meyer spoke to the crowd before the game and presented Donovan's parents, Jim and Karen, with a gift. Then each player was introduced and sprinted to shortstop — the spot Donovan excelled at for four varsity seasons with the Sentinels.
“It meant a lot to me, and I'm so happy because it also meant a lot to the Donovans,” said Lisle coach Pete Meyer. “I think it was the right thing to do, especially considering that's our archrival. We wanted to do something, and we wanted to do it the right way.”
The emotional ceremony concluded with a moment of silence and set the perfect stage for another chapter of the friendly rivalry between Lisle and Westmont.
“It meant a lot,” said Westmont junior catcher Joe Donovan, Charlie's younger brother. “I know both coaches pretty well and they're just really good guys. Just to know how much thought and effort they put into it means a lot.”
The game was knotted 2-2 until the top of the seventh inning when Westmont (7-8, 1-5) scored 6 runs on 5 of its 8 hits in the game. Complete-game winning pitcher Jackson Fischer provided the big hit with a 3-run double.
“It feels good, especially on a day like this when we're honoring our greatest player in school history,” said Fischer, who struck out seven and scattered 6 hits. “It was one of the classiest things I've ever seen. Wearing this jersey made me feel like I was playing with a real purpose.”
Westmont opened a 2-0 first-inning lead. After Lisle (9-7, 4-2) narrowed the gap to 2-1 in the second, Zach Heidenry tied it with a fourth-inning RBI single. The Lions, however, wound up stranding the bases loaded.
Lisle starter David White pitched well between the second and sixth inning while allowing only 2 hits and four baserunners.
“Nobody in the state saw Charlie play more than Lisle did,” said Westmont coach D.J. Cocks. “We as a program are completely touched by this. To step up and do these things for the Donovans and the Westmont baseball family was just very classy on their part.”
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