Joliet West baseball earns Southwest Prairie Conference Eastern Division crown
JOLIET, Ill. (BVM) — In 2019, an experienced Joliet West baseball team suffered a regional championship loss that had it chomping at the bit to get back on the diamond. But last spring, the Tigers never had the chance.
Although they came into the 2021 campaign less experienced, the Tigers were out to make up for last year’s lost season, and have started by winning a Southwest Prairie Conference (SPC) Eastern Division championship.
The Tigers’ game against Plainfield Central was the title clincher for Joliet West, and it came with a dazzling performance on the mound. Sophomore Conner Hogan — a 6-foot-8 pitcher — has led the team’s staff all season, and it was no different in this one as he threw a complete game, allowing just six hits and one run with three strikeouts.
On the season, Hogan has gone a perfect 6-0 in his 11 starts, with a 2.30 ERA. His dominance in the sport may not come to a surprise to those who know him, as Hogan is the maternal grandson of hall of famer, Carlton Fisk. Hogan has begun wearing No. 72 in honor of his grandfather.
While the pitching has been good, the bats have also stepped up for Joliet West. Throughout the season, senior catcher Ty Batusich has led the way at the plate for the Tigers, batting an impressive .557 on the season with seven homers and 31 RBIs.
Against Plainfield Central, the Tigers saw themselves trailing until the bottom of the fifth inning. That’s when senior Cam Karczewski — son of Joliet West head coach John Karczewski — stepped up to the plate and hit a two-run triple to give the Tigers the lead for good. He would later score on a wild pitch for the team’s third run.
The hit by the shortstop was one to cherish for both he and his father, and helped the Tigers to their first division crown since 2013. Joliet West finished 12-1 in its division, and boasts a 15-8-1 overall record as they aim to make a deep run in postseason play.
