JOLIET – senior pitcher Tommy Korn stood on the back of the pitching mound and took a deep breath in preparation for what he hoped was the last batter in the Tigers’ season. Korn had retired Lemont’s first two batters before walking Max Michalak with Central clinging to a one-run lead. He was undaunted.
Korn struck out Noah Tomaras on four pitches, then slammed his glove on the mound and screamed. Catcher Sean Kempf whipped off his mask and sprinted out to join Korn. Gloves flew in the air, fireworks went off and the rest of the Tigers raced to celebrate their 3-2 victory in the Class 3A Baseball State Tournament championship Saturday at Joliet’s Duly Health and Care Field.
It is the Tigers’ first state baseball title in school history and came one week after Central’s girls soccer team won the Class 2A state championship. A few moments into the celebration, Korn just laid on the ground by the mound, soaking everything in. “I can’t explain it, man,” Korn said.
“My body, after seeing that pitch and the strike 3, my body collapsed. Just happy and thankful. It was beautiful.
It was amazing.” Central (22-14) finished the season with a 13-game winning streak and won a state title as a No. 10 seed in the Grayslake Central Sectional.
“These guys are outstanding,” said Tigers first-year coach Cal Aldridge, who is 27 years old. “Every single day they show up and work their tail off. “They responded to adversity better than any group I’ve been around, an.