The heart of the Catholic League schedule tests the deepest of rotations, especially when “off” days consist of nonconference games against solid teams.
Mount Carmel is 19-0 because it keeps finding different ways to win.
A day after rallying for five runs in the bottom of the seventh, the No. 1 Caravan needed a gem from Austin Dodson in his first career start and five Benet errors to pull out a 2-1 victory in the first game of the three-day Southside Conference Challenge at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood.
Dodson, who found out he was pitching following Mount Carmel’s 11-10 victory Thursday against Morgan Park, allowed two hits in 6 2/3 innings. T.J. Laurisch recorded the final out 16 hours before his scheduled Saturday morning start against Brother Rice.
“It is very good for us as a team to play tight games, as much as it might be rough on the stomach,” Mount Carmel coach Brian Hurry said. “We play so many games. The plan at the start of the week was to use Austin tonight, but we didn’t say anything because we’re taking this one game at a time.
“If we had to use him in relief before tonight, we would have.”
The Redwings (8-6) did not record another hit after taking a 1-0 lead after consecutive singles to start the game. .
Mount Carmel broke through against Benet’s Pat McInerney in the sixth.
Courtesy runner Beau Filkins stole second and third to draw the infield in for Justin Gonzalez’s tying single. Justin Sanchez broke the tie with a bases-loaded walk.
Dodson retired 16 of 17 batters before losing the plate in the seventh. Laurisch came in with two on and two out and induced a ground ball back to the mound.
“It was a surprise but I got the job done,” Dodson said. “It put me under a lot of pressure but I knew my boys had my back.”
Player of the game:
Austin Dodson, Mount Carmel, 6 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 3 SO, 4 BB.
Key performers:
Benet — Pat McInerney 5 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 4 SO, 3 BB.
