Journal & Topics Media Group

Bulldogs Season Ends In Regionals


It wasn’t the way the Mount Prospect Bulldogs wanted to end their season, as the local American Legion baseball team went 0-2 at the Great Lakes Regionals in Napoleon, OH.

The Bulldogs have nothing to hang their heads about after ending the season 16-8 and with a state championship.

Mount Prospect fell 5-1 to Terre Haute (IN) Wednesday, Aug. 8 in the opening round and was eliminated Thursday, Aug. 9 following a 9-8 loss to host Napoleon (OH) in walk-off fashion.

The Bulldogs jumped out to an 8-3 lead against Napoleon after 4 innings, but the hosts scored 2 runs in the fifth and 3 in the sixth to tie it up at 8-8. Napoleon loaded the bases against Liam Blackburn (Maine West) in the bottom of the seventh and won after Blackburn hit the next batter to end the game. Overall, Mount Prospect gave up 11 walks in the loss.

At the plate against Napoleon, Mount Prospect was led by Matt Raymond (Loyola; 3-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 runs), James Denten (Hersey; 2-for-4, 1 2B, 3 RBI), Tony Composto (Prospect; 1-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 run), Jason Vrbancic (Loyola; 1-for-2, 1 RBI,1 run) and Will Adamski (Hersey; 1-for-3, 1 3B, 1 run). Daniel Kubsik (Hersey; 1 run), Joe Coen (Rolling Meadows; 1 run) and AJ Ceffalio (Hersey; 1 run) also contributed on offense in the loss.

In the opening regional loss, the Bulldogs allowed 4 runs in the fourth inning to put themselves in a hole they couldn’t get out of. Blackburn (2-for-3, 1 RBI), Adamski (1-for-3, 1 run), Vrbancic (1-for-3), Raymond (1-for-3) and Ceffalio (1-for-4) all helped combine for all 6 hits by Mount Prospect against Terre Haute. Tyler Haffey, son of head coach Jim Haffey, struggled at the plate over the two games, going without a hit. PJ McKermitt (Loyola) was dinged with the loss on the mound against Terre Haute after allowing 6 hits, 4 runs (1 earned), 1 walk and 5 strikeouts in 5 innings.

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