Even before the first pitch, junior right-hander Owen Lense actually knew that he would be getting into Wednesday’s game for Lincoln-Way East. He just didn’t know when or for how long.
Lense then took control with the SouthWest Suburban Conference title on the line.
“This was supposed to be a bullpen game and everybody was going to be getting innings,” said Lense, who came in facing a two-run deficit in the second. “I knew I was coming in. I was ready.”
Was he ever.
Lense scattered three hits in six scoreless innings and was involved in a pitcher’s duel through five innings before the Griffins erupted for an 11-2 victory over host Sandburg in Orland Park.
That performance paved the way for Lincoln-Way East (23-9, 12-4), which tied Lincoln-Way Central (17-10, 12-4) for the conference title with the Knights beating Bradley-Bourbonnais 8-2.
“I was just concentrating on going in and using both sides of the plate,” Lense said. “I wanted to win this game. I knew it was for the conference championship and I had to do it for my team.
“It went better than I expected. I came in there and I was in the zone.”
So was Evan Riiff, who had two hits and three RBIs for the Griffins. Casey Mikrut, Cooper Johnson and Tyler Hudik each added two hits and Rocco Triolo drove in a pair of runs. Hudik showed his versatility, bunting for a single in an eight-run sixth and hitting a solo homer in the seventh.
Ryan Evoy came up with a single, double and triple for Sandburg (20-11, 7-9).
“That’s what he does every time he goes out there,” Hudik said of Lense. “He goes out there and shoves every single time. When he’s out there, I have no doubt in my mind that we will be fine.”
Lincoln-Way East coach John McCarthy felt the same way as Hudik did.
“Owen came in and threw strikes and did a really good job,” McCarthy said. “He came up big and kept us in the game. This game could have gone sideways. Kudos to him. He was outstanding.”
The Griffins snapped a five-game losing streak that produced only 14 runs with Monday’s 1-0 win over Sandburg in Frankfort. They then scored just two runs in the first five innings Wednesday.
So, the deluge of runs in the sixth created a sigh of relief in Lincoln-Way East’s dugout.
“We have a great group of guys,” Lense said. “When we string hits together, good things happen.”
“It was one of those innings that happens in baseball,” McCarthy said. “Thankfully, it happened for us in time to win the game.”
The Griffins believe they have enough talent to make a run at a Class 4A state championship.
“It’s just about going out there and winning ball games,” Hudik said. “The sky is the limit. I think we can go as far as the state championship if we keep playing like this.”
Surviving and thriving in the SouthWest Suburban Conference could help that cause.
McCarthy thinks sharing the conference title is still a huge accomplishment.
“It’s one of the best conferences in the state of Illinois from top to bottom,” he said. “For us to be a conference champ is a real honor for our boys. It shows the type of grit they have because there are a lot of ups and a lot of downs. We managed to stay with it.”
Lense, who said he’s been playing baseball since kindergarten, also stayed with it. He said one of the things he loves about baseball is playing in big situations like Wednesday’s game.
“I like the satisfying big moments,” Lense said. “A lot of moments in baseball are just like ‘wow’ and you feel great after doing it.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
