Dembowski hit wins it for Warriors in seventh inning.
By Mike Miazga
Correspondent
The Willowbrook baseball team doubled its fun recently.
Mike Dembowski’s RBI double in the bottom of the seventh inning gave the Warriors a 6-5 come-from-behind victory against Lake Park to win the Class 4A Hoffman Estates regional title.
Willowbrook is the No. 3 seed in the Lake Park sectional, while Lake Park is the No. 11 seed.
The win moved Willowbrook to 25-8 overall. The Warriors won their fourth regional title in school history and first since 2012.
Willowbrook led 2-0 after the first inning, but trailed 3-2 after three innings. A two-run fourth inning gave the Warriors a 4-3 lead, but Lake Park tied it with a run in the fifth. Willowbrook went back ahead 5-4 in the bottom of the fifth, but Lake Park again tied the score at 5-5 with a run in the top of the seventh.
Willowbrook had nine hits in the game.
Ben Espinoza went 1-for-3 with a run scored and a walk. Jon Kelso had a walk and a run scored. Kyle Ferguson went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, an RBI and a walk. Alec Michaelson had a hit and two RBI. Trevor Jaloszynski had a hit and a run scored. Jack Hines went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Sam Pelsor had a hit and two RBI. Dembowski, Hines and Pelsor each hit a double. Ferguson had a home run.
Scott Kohrt was the winning pitcher. He pitched the seventh and struck out one. Ryan Mintz started and went four innings. He allowed two hits and three earned runs, while striking out two. Jack Nilles pitched two innings of relief and gave up one hit and struck out two.
Willowbrook reached the regional final after a 6-0 win over Batavia in the regional semifinals.
Michaelson pitched 6 2/3 innings and allowed only one hit, while striking out five to pick up the win. Kohrt pitched the final third of an inning and got a strikeout.
Michaelson also helped himself out at the plate by hitting a home run. He also had a run scored, two RBI and a walk.
Espinoza and Kelso each scored a run and drew a walk. Ranieri went 1-for-2 with an RBI. Ferguson scored a run and drew a walk. Dembowski had a hit, two runs scored, an RBI and a walk. Jaloszynski and Pelsor each contributed a hit and an RBI. Dembowski and Jaolszynski each doubled.
The Warriors were scheduled to play Conant Wednesday at Lake Park in one sectional semifinal game. The other game features St. Charles North and South Elgin. Conant is the No. 18 seed in the sectional, while St. Charles North is the No. 1 seed and South Elgin is the No. 4 seed.
