Warriors Win Lombard Tournament Championship!

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The Warriors won five consecutive games over the July 4th weekend to win the Lombard Thunder tournament championship! The Warriors beat Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Burr Ridge, Plainfield and Palos in succession to accomplish this feat. This is the third tournament championship for this team in the past three seasons: Hickory Hills (2008), Homer (2009) and Lombard (2010)!

Winning the final two games of the Lombard tournament was no easy task. Both games were tied in the late innings.

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In the first game, Plainfield scored quickly in the first. The lead off hitter smashed a double on the first pitch of the game and scored moments later on a ground out to the shortstop.

The Warriors failed to score in the first inning, but tied the game in the second inning when C.J. Brucki hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Tim Prendergast. Jason Waner retired Plainfield in the second and third innings without allowing a run.

The Warriors took a one run lead after scoring a run in the bottom of the third inning on Lance Cardinal's sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Jason Waner.

Plainfield regained the lead in the top of the fourth inning with two runs on two hits. But, the Warriors tied the game once again in the bottom of the frame when C.J. Brucki doubled to centerfield to score Sam Marc.

Tim Prendergast entered the game in relief for the Warriors as the game moved into the fifth inning tied at three runs a piece. Tim did not allow a hit or a run until the seventh inning of the game.

The Warriors offense exploded with 7 runs on 6 hits in the bottom of the third inning. The Warriors held Plainfield to a run in the seventh inning to secure the 10-4 win to move into the championship game against Palos.

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The previous meeting between Palos and the Warriors in the Chicagoland Metro tournament was a pitchers' duel--with Palos prevailing 3-2. This time, it was a slugfest--and the Warriors held on to win 12-11 to secure its third tournament championship in three seasons.

Things looked promising early when the Warriors scored six runs in the first inning on four hits. Tim Prendergast lined a triple to deep leftfield to drive home two runs. Tim tripled again later in the game to drive home another run.

But, the hard hitting Palos team fought back--scoring three runs in the second inning and three more runs in the third inning to tie the ballgame.

The Warriors scored three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to regain the lead. But, Palos put three more runs on the board in the fifth inning to tie the game once again!

The Warriors put another three spot on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning when Paco Lauciello doubled and Lance Cardinal tripled in the inning.

Palos scored two runs in the sixth inning to climb to within one run. The Warriors failed to score in the bottom of the frame.

Jason Waner entered the game in a save situation for the Warriors. The lead-off man for Palos represented to tying run and reached base on a walk. The next hitter for Palos hit a sinking line drive into rightfield. Robbie Maxfield charged the ball and made a sensational diving catch for the out. The Warriors easily doubled the runner off of first base who was running on the hit. Jason got the next hitter to hit a pop up to shallow leftfield. Sam Marc drifted back from his shortstop position and made the catch to end the game.