Nate Madej was supposed to have the night off.
The Lemont junior was ready to kick back and relax in the dugout Friday against Lockport after pitching the previous night. His breather didn’t last long.
Madej entered the game in the second inning after a Lemont player was ejected for arguing balls and strikes. He promptly ripped a bases-clearing double in his first at-bat, giving the Indians a five-run lead.
“I was figuring I’d get a day off with the arm and everything, but something happened and I had to step up and do the job,” Madej said. “I was just trying to get a little hit. I didn’t want the inning to end with the bases loaded.”
Madej wasn’t done inflicting damage. He added an RBI single in the seventh inning as Lemont rolled to a 10-1 victory at Finkle Field in Lockport.
“Nate’s a little bulldog,” Indians coach Brian Storako said. “He’s ready to go whether its on the mound or at the plate. That was just his second varsity appearance at the plate and he proved himself.”
Lemont’s lineup was rock solid from top to bottom. Every player scored or knocked in a run. Madej (4 RBIs) and St. Louis recruit Garrett Acton (2-for-4, 2 runs) led the Indians (7-3).
“It’s nice to finally have some big hits,” Storako said. “We’d been leaving a lot of runners on base.”
Lockport (5-2) received an RBI double from Stephen Hill, which scored Jake Huber. But the Porters left the bases loaded in the third and couldn’t muster much offense against starter Austin Tittle or reliever Danny Rizzo.
“Their pitcher (Tittle) did a nice job of keeping us off balance,” Lockport coach Andy Satunas said. “We missed that opportunity with the bases loaded and they were able to take advantage of theirs.”
Dom Connolly, Casey O’Brien and Tittle each scored two runs for Lemont.
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Tittle, making his first start due to scheduling issues, was on a strict pitch count as he entered the rotation. He went three innings, chalking up three strikeouts while allowing one run.
Rizzo finished the game and kept Lockport from mounting a comeback. He had three strikeouts and allowed three hits.
“This is usually a rivalry game for us, so it’s good to beat them pretty good,” Rizzo said. “There was a lot of energy. Those runs (in the third inning) were helpful for me. It was easier on the mound. No stress.”
Lemont played without standout first baseman Nick Wisz, who injured his shoulder in the previous game.
Crete-Monee 12, Kankakee 2: Winning pitcher Matt Sonntag struck out 11 and also contributed two RBIs for Crete-Monee (6-3, 4-0 Southland).
Illinois Lutheran 10, Rich Central 7: Matt Egeler had the go-ahead single in the seventh for Illinois Lutheran (6-3).
Lincoln-Way East 4, Bolingbrook 1: Kyla Manka (6 innings, 4 hits, 9 strikeouts) sparked East (3-6, 1-1 SWSC Red).
Lincoln-Way North 3, Bradley-Bourbonnais 0: Tyler Laux (6.1 innings, 4 hits, 9 strikeouts) and Tom Szczasny (solo homer) led North (11-3, 2-0 SWSC Red).
Lincoln-Way West 16, Andrew 11: Adam Knerr (2-for-3, 3 runs, 3 RBIs) aided West (6-3, 2-0 SWSC Red).
Oak Forest 10, T.F. South 0: Mike Edwards (3-hitter) paced Oak Forest (6-2, 3-1 SSC Blue).
Providence 3, Bishop McNamara 2: Zach Pych scored on a wild pitch to cap a two-run seventh for Providence (11-1, 3-0 Catholic Blue).
Sandburg 3, Joliet Central 2: Andy Gaytan (3-for-4, 2 doubles, 2 runs) fueled Sandburg (9-0, 2-0 SWSC Blue).
Shepard 5, Argo 4: Winning Eric Bruesch hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth to boost Shepard (7-6, 5-0 SSC Red).
Stagg 12, Homewood-Flossmoor 11: Josh Nowak’s seventh-inning sacrifice fly highlighted an eight-run outburst for Stagg (8-7, 1-1 SWSC Blue).
Softball
Andrew 16, Thornwood 2: Cierra Taylor (2 doubles, 3 RBIs) spurred Andrew (7-1, 2-0 SWSC Red).
Crete-Monee 5, Kankakee 2: Savannah Kiel (no earned runs, 2 hits, 6 strikeouts) led Crete-Monee (6-1, 4-0 Southland).
Evergreen Park 12, Bremen 2: Megan Pyles contributed as a pitcher (earned run, 6 strikeouts) and hitter (3 RBIs) for Evergreen (6-3, 5-1 SSC Red).
Joliet Catholic 6, Romeoville 0: Alyssa Callans pitched a 4-hitter and went 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs for JCA (6-2).
Lincoln-Way Central 7, Bradley-Bourbonnais 6: Abigail Baez (2-run homer, 3 RBIs) keyed Central (4-6, 1-1 SWSC Red).
Lincoln-Way West 3, Lincoln-Way North 0: Amanda Ruskowsky (2-hitter, 8 strikeouts) lifted West (7-1, 2-0 SWSC Red).
Lockport 8, Homewood-Flossmoor 4: Tara McElligott (4-for-4, 2 RBIs) boosted Lockport (5-2, 2-0 SWSC Blue).
Oak Lawn 3, Oak Forest 2: Mia Loya (no earned runs, 3 hits) elevated Oak Lawn (8-4, 5-1 SSC Red).
Marist 11, Plainfield East 1: Madison Naujokas (3-for-4, 2 doubles, 3 RBIs) led Marist (9-2).
Providence 1, Plainfield North 0: Jessica Cothern’s seventh-inning sacrifice fly scored Shannon Smith for Providence (10-0).
Sandburg 6, Joliet West 2: Molly Kaspar (2-run double) sparked a four-run seventh for Sandburg (8-5, 2-0 SWSC Blue).
Girls Soccer
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Crete-Monee 4, Bloom 0: Adrianna Vera and Grace Miller (goal, assist each) spurred Crete-Monee (3-3, 2-0 Southland).
Men’s Volleyball
Lewis 25-25-23-25, Grand Canyon (Ariz.) 15-21-25-17: Julian Moses (16 kills) and Mitch Perinar (14) paced Lewis (18-12) in the MIVA quarterfinal.
Logan Malloy is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown. Freelance writer Josh Krockey contributed to this story.