Trojans get the early say in region with win over South Suburban

An onslaught of hits for the Triton College baseball team wiped out an early four-run deficit while the bullpen allowed just one run in 5 1/3 innings as the Trojans beat arch-rival South Suburban College 10-5 March 21 at Symonds-Puckett Field.

In the first re-match since the Bulldogs captured the Region 4 championship last May amid a dramatic doubleheader at Triton, Jayden Gonzalez and Camden Karczewski (four hits) handled the clutch hitting in the first home game since the Trojans (8-12) returned from a New Orleans road trip.

"It was a revenge game for all our sophomores," said Karczewski with last spring's emotional season ending still fresh in his and teammates' minds.

The Trojans chased Bulldogs lefty starter Mariano Gomez after he walked the first two batters in the sixth. Then Triton jumped on the South Suburban relievers as Gonzalez slashed a single to tie the game 4-4. Karczewski then put the Trojans ahead for good with another single. Noah Jouras made it 6-4 with another single.

Gonzalez and Karczewski teamed up again back-to-back in the bottom of the seventh after Nicholas Johnstone cut the deficit to one with a leadoff homer. Gonzalez drilled a booming two run-double to left for an 8-5 lead, then Karczewski singled again to boost the edge to four runs.

Triton trailed 4-0 after three innings, but quickly cut the lead in half with a two-run burst on Jouras' triple and Dylan Holmes' single.

"Hitting is definitely contagious," said Karczewski. "If I do my job, it makes it easier for the next guy to do his job."

Added Gonzalez: "We were down, but this team, we start late."

Frank Magnelli slugged the Trojans' only homer in the eighth for the final score.

Triton head coach Harry Torgerson pulled starter Ben Catrabrone after 76 pitches with two out in the fourth. The succession of relievers Cody Bledsoe, Carter Prochaska and Deeiby Garcia allowed only Johnstone's homer the rest of the way.

Bledsoe was particularly impressive holding off the Bulldogs for 3 1/3 innings with the game squarely in the balance.

"We just got back from the New Orleans trip, and we got adequate rest," Torgerson said. "The arms should have been fresh. We went with a plan to not overtax. Bledsoe has been pitching pretty good."

The Trojans endured some stresses in New Orleans, including disputes with umpires. But Torgerson looked toward the roster settling down back home.

"Our bats progressively were much better, and we were getting deeper into counts," he said.

Triton and South Suburban will play round two of the 2023 version of their rivalry April 15 in South Holland.

Follow Triton Athletics on Twitter @TritonTrojans1 or on Instagram @Triton_College_Athletics

(Story by tritonathletics.com contributor George Castle)