Oak Lawn is 0-7-1 against Chicago Mt. Carmel since March of 2015 but things could change on Thursday. The Spartans will face off against the Caravan at 4:30 p.m. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
Oak Lawn's pitching crew heads into the contest hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Tuesday. They blew past Argo 13-0. The Spartans might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won five matches by eight runs or more this season.
Danny Strelow looked comfortable as he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits over four innings pitched.
Peyton Melnik
| 03/21/25 @ Brooks | 6 |
| 04/15/25 vs Argo | 4 |
| 04/10/25 vs Tinley Park | 3 |
| 04/14/25 @ Argo | 2 |
| 04/01/25 @ Evergreen Park | 2 |
| + 1 more games |
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Peyton Melnik, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with two stolen bases, four RBI, and two runs. He has become a key player for Oak Lawn: the team is 2-1 when he posts at least three RBI, but 4-8 otherwise. Jackson Hilger was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-3.
Oak Lawn always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .636. The last time their OBP was this high was back in May of 2024.
Meanwhile, Chicago Mt. Carmel entered their tilt with St. Rita on Tuesday with four consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with five. They were the clear victors by a 10-1 margin over the Mustangs.
Matt Murphy spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered only one earned run on six hits. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than one earned run in three consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Joey Ireland was incredible, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. That home run marked the first that he launched this season. The team also got some help courtesy of Johnathan Osorin, who scored three runs while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances.
Chicago Mt. Carmel's record now sits at 9-5. As for Oak Lawn, their win ended a three-game drought at home and bumped them up to 6-9.
Oak Lawn might still be hurting after the 10-0 defeat they got from Chicago Mt. Carmel when the teams last played back in May of 2024. Can the Spartans avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
