Prospect Center fielder Jake Bush was looking to make a play.

Prospect led Stevenson 3-2 in the top of the 7th inning with one on and one out in the IHSA regional championship game. 

Prospect reliever Cole Conner started the inning by sitting down Jordan Skolmar on a 2-2 curveball, but Stevenson quickly responded with a Benji Ries single to right. Stevenson then went on to pinch run for Ries before Joe Little came to the plate.

Conner released a high first-pitch fastball to Little, who drove it into center field. Bush drifted back before planting, catching, and firing the ball back towards first base.

“I looked up and saw the runner at second, so I knew I had a chance to throw him out. I figured it might as well throw it and I made sure to keep the throw low.” Bush said.

Kyle Odeshoo fielded the ball on a three hop and as  the runners’  foot slipped off the bag Odeshoo applied the tag. 

The fist base official raised his fist and in that instant the field flooded with blue and white jerseys. Prospect had won the regional 3-2, the first time since 2016.

“My teammates they’ve known that I really haven’t played my part this year. So, being able to go out there and [make a play] for my teammates felt so good. I felt proud.” Bush said.

Gates started the game for the Knights and was nothing short of fantastic. Gates went 5 ⅓ innings with 8 strikeouts while only surrendering 2 hits. One of those two hits was put over the left field wall by Ries for a solo homerun. The other being a blooper into right field.

“I was locked in. All my pitches were moving well and locating the zone. It was just an awesome feeling. It felt great.” Gates said.

After a scoreless first two innings for Prospect, Bush broke the silence with a screaming leadoff triple through the right center gap. Two batters later Rossi sent a double over right fielder Trent Henderson’s head and the Knights were on the board.

The Knights had no issue getting runners in scoring position, but failed to bring them home throughout the game. Prospect left runners on in five of their six offensive innings.

The offensive bright spots for the Knights were Sommers and Conner as they both went 2-3 on the day with Sommers knocking in pinch runner Rick Lytle to make the game 3-1 in the fifth.

After a wild pitch led to a Stevenson run in the sixth, head coach Ross Giusti went to Conner to close out the game.

“We’re going to enjoy it tonight. Enjoy it at practice tomorrow,” said Pitching coach Phil O’Grady, “[Glenbrook North] is a two seed, the pressure’s on them we’re the three [seed].” 

Prospect will look to continue their playoff run at Glenbrook North on Wednesday Jun 9. at 4:30.