Back in March, several members of the Whitney Young baseball team were in downstate Normal cheering on the school’s girl’s basketball team to a state championship. The team didn’t hang around long to celebrate with their fellow classmates. They quickly he
That preparation in the Sunshine State paid off as the Dolphins repeated as city baseball champs with a 2-1 victory over Lake View at U.S. Cellular Field. “Winning another city title is something these kids have really worked hard for,” Whitney Young head coach, Chris Cassidy, said.
“Repeating as city champions wasn’t easy, but they went out and they got the job done.” It was a perfect Public League season for Whitney Young. They went unbeaten in the league with the lone blemish during the regular season record being a 12-11 non-league loss to Prairie Ridge.
While a solid hitting attack was the key to the regular season for the Dolphins, pitching and defense was the difference in the Public League playoffs. In the championship game it was senior right-hander Joe Frahm who ruled the day, scattering six hits and striking out seven Lake View batters. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Lake View got the potential tying and winning runs on base, but Frahm calmly got the final on a fly to center.
Meanwhile, it was a disappointing loss for Lake View. The surprise team in the Public League all season, the Wildcats, who were celebrating the 125th season of baseball at the North Side school, reached the city championship game for the first time since 1977.
Lake View, which ended its season with a 20-10 record, got an outstanding performance in the title game from starting pitcher Deion Geiger, who gave up the only two Young runs in the fifth inning on a walk and a wild pitch. However, it was those two runs that gave the Dolphins the city title. By winning the championship game, Whitney Young remained number one in the final weekly Public League baseball poll.
The Dolphins were in the top spot of the poll all season. City runner up Lake View was second while Harlan moved up to third, Simeon fourth and Brooks fifth. Rounding out the final poll was Jones College Prep sixth, Taft seventh, Von Steuben eighth, Hyde Park ninth and Ag Science tenth.
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Just two days after winning the city title, Whitney Young’s hopes for a state championship were dash when they dropped a 9-5 decision to Oak Park in the Class 4-A sectional semifinals. Young built an early 5-0 lead, but Oak Park rallied for the win. Glenbard South outfielder William Hill is expected to sign a letter of commitment to attend Chicago State University. The Cougars are getting a player with some pretty good bloodlines.
He’s the grandson of Cubs Hall of Famer Billy Williams. “He is a very good outfielder and an excellent student and we’re looking forward to having him here at Chicago State,” said Cougar baseball coach Husain Mahmoud. The Chicago State head coach also said he is hoping to sign some Public League players including two from city champion Whitney Young.
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