[Preview of this week’s story in Inside—Booster.]
By Jack Lydon
The Lane Tech Champions handled the Payton Grizzlies Friday evening 8-3 at Kerry Wood Cubs Field. It was the second time the Champions defeated the Grizzlies last week. The first being Tuesday’s 11-1 win also at Kerry Wood. Freshman righthander Dodger Friedrich was on the mound for the Champions demonstrating a remarkable command of the strike-zone and considerable toughness to work himself through some rough spots.
“I thought he did a great job,” said Lane Tech’s head coach Sean Freeman of his freshman pitcher. Friedrich tossed a seven-inning complete game win giving up three earned runs on five hits, five strike-outs and only one walk. Friedrich had only ninety-one pitches of which seventy were strikes. The fourteen-year-old Friedrich improved his record to 2-1 on the season.
“Obviously, he's got good stuff for his age, but he also throws a lot of strikes. He competes well. The pitch count was pretty low. He didn't want to come out. So I figured let's see what he is made up and see if you can finish it,” said Freeman.
The Champions helped their freshman hurler by jumping out to an early lead 2-0 lead with two runs on two hits in the top of the first before Friedrich even took the field.
In the top of the second with two out and the bases loaded, Champions’ junior catcher Jacob DeVinney crushed a bases loaded double over the left fielder’s head and off the wall to score three runs giving the Champions a five-run lead early. It would be all their young pitcher would need.
Champions’ second baseman senior Tyler Trapp was three for five with two strike-outs and scored a run improving his team leading batting average to 0.436 and an amazing 0.581 on base percentage. DeVinney had two hits. Alex Ziegler went two for four and scored a run. Zolan Whatt also when two for four and scored two runs. Max Hinojosa when two for four, scored a run and had a run-batted-in.
Friedrich worked himself out of a little trouble in the bottom of the second. Payton’s lead-off hitter junior Nick Linares singled past Lane’s Miles Mazanowski. Friedrich then hit the next batter, Payton’s senior pitcher Nathan Volkens making it first and second with nobody out. Junior Sam Merrill’s sacrifice bunt moved up the runners. Friedrich then struck out Payton’s John Seward looking. Payton’s senior outfielder Augie Rug then singled scoring the two runs. Friedrich got the next batter to end the innings and would finish the game giving up long five hits, on one walk and five strike outs.
The Champions improve their overall record to 11-6. The record is better than it looks. The Champions have only two in-state losses and those in tight games to top teams Mount Carmel and Glenbrook North. The Champions lost four games early in the season against very good out-of-state teams on a trip to a tournament in Alabama over Spring Break.
Lane continues to roll through the Chicago Public League’s Jackie Robinson North Division with a 6-0 record. So far beating Von Stueben twice, Whitney Young twice and Payton twice. Taft, Amundsen, Ogden International and Lincoln Park are still to come.
