By Randy Whalen

Keep taking steps forward.

That's what the Joliet Central baseball team has done and plans to continue doing.

The Steelmen doubled their win total from the previous season this spring and captured a playoff victory.

It's all part of what Joliet Central coach Miguel Silva planned when he took over as head coach two years ago.

"One of the things people say about Joliet Central baseball is that the team plays hard and competes the right way," Silva said at that time. "That's fine, but this is a great opportunity. I'm thrilled and excited to make a difference. My job is to take it to the next step of where it needs to be. 

"To be able to oversee that shift. Get the kids to be selfless and relentless in pursuit of excellence. I want us to show that we will commit as a team, and proudly wear the Steelmen logo. To say, 'Why not us?'"  

That was the Steelmen attitude this season. They improved from six wins to 11, going 11-26, with a trio of Southwest Prairie Conference victories. Those were over Plainfield East, Romeoville, and Plainfield South. That was their most wins since also having 11 in 2019 and the most SPC wins since gaining four in 2017. 

"We battled, and I'm incredibly proud of them," Silva said of the team following the final game of the season. "We dedicated ourselves, and the guys never lost sight of the goal."

No, they didn't, and won a regional quarterfinal game for the second straight season. But then, also for the second straight season, they faced a very good Lincoln-Way West team in a regional semifinal.  

That happened on Wednesday, May 27, as the Warriors prevailed 10-2 in the opening semifinal of the Class 4A Homewood-Flossmoor Regional. Host H-F won the second game 10-3 over Rich Township that evening. In the regional title game, No. 2-seeded Lincoln-Way West defeated the No. 7-seeded Vikings 6-2. 

The Warriors faced No. 3-seeded Sandburg on Wednesday, June 3, in the second semifinal of the Lincoln-Way Central Sectional. No. 5-seeded Marist squared off against the No. 8-seeded and host Knights in the nightcap. 

But the Steelmen's improvement showed in the fact that last year they fell 10-0 to Lincoln-Way West in six innings and didn't register a hit in the game. 

This season, Joliet Central had five hits and scored a pair of runs. But Lincoln-Way West had 11 hits in scoring single runs in the bottom of the first and fifth, as well as five runs in the second and three runs in the fourth. 

Gilberto Garcia and Camden Rande each had two hits and an RBI, while senior right fielder Tyler Long had a hit and scored a run for the Steelmen.

Garcia, a senior right-hander who recently signed to continue his baseball career at Aurora University, got the start on the mound. He gave up six runs, five earned, on eight hits with one walk and three strikeouts in his two innings of work. He also plays third base and was named to the All-Conference team in the Southwest Prairie.

"Gilberto was our team MVP," Silva said. "He was our heart and soul."

But his big moment, in his final high school game, came to lead off the top of the fourth. That's when Garcia launched his fourth home run of the season to left to get Joliet Central on the board. 

"Yes, as soon as I hit it, I knew it was gone," said Garcia, who flew out to the center field wall in the top of the sixth. "I could feel it, and I took advantage of a curveball."

Later in the fourth, Rande, a junior designated hitter, has an RBI double to right. 

"He hung a change up, and I was happy to find some green with a hit out there," Rande said. "We fought, that's all we can ask for. I'm proud of us. 

"We worked our butts off coming into this year. Now we just have to keep working in the offseason and show we're a good team."

Lincoln-Way West (26-9 through May 30) was led by junior Jackson Heinlen (5 IP, 2 R, 0 BB, 3 K), along with seniors Jackson Mansker (2 H, 2 BB, 2B, 2 RBI), Michael Pettit (2 H), Quinten Lange (2 H, 3 RBI), and Peyton Globke (2 H, 2B, RBI). The Warriors had 11 hits, and Joliet Central made two errors.

"Playoff baseball is all about pitching and execution," Silva said. "We'll clean it up and be better for it."

In the regional quarterfinal game, on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, the No. 15-seeded Steelmen made the most of four hits and defeated No. 18-seed Eisenhower, 6-4. 

Junior right-hander Ryan Cooling earned the win, going five innings, giving up four unearned runs, with two walks and seven strikeouts. Garcia and Long led the way with a triple each. Long, Cooling, Garcia, and senior Adam Sanchez all had hits and drove in runs. Joliet Central scored five in the bottom of the third to grab a 5-2 lead. 

Eisenhower (5-22) had seven hits. The Cardinals were led by senior Favian Barcena (3-for-4, R) and junior Adaan Mchenry (2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI).

"We got up early, got hits, and passed it onto the next guy," Garcia said. "What I'll remember is just playing with the team. We got better every day."

That's the plan as the Steelmen have already started their summer camp in anticipation of not only next season, but for the future beyond.

"We are so proud of how our kids battled and improved throughout the whole season," Silva said. "Seniors, thank you for everything. Your hard work and dedication have set a standard for the future.

"We are just going to continue to get better, stack the standard, and build our buy-in with the guys that want to be here and bust their butt."