Clutch Late Rally Lifts Simeon Past Payton; One Win From State

With the season on the line, the Wolverines continue to overcome adversity and deliver in key moments.

The Simeon Wolverines win the Brooks 3A Sectional and are one win away from the final four

CHICAGO- Simeon captured the Brooks Sectional title with an 8-5 win over the Payton Grizzlies. They will advance to the Super Sectional at Ozinga Field on Monday at 5 pm where they’ll face the St. Laurence Vikings.

With the score tied at 4 in the bottom of the fifth and one out, senior centerfielder Ben Johnson—playing in his first game back after missing the last three due to health issues—stepped to the plate.

The JRW South Conference leader in hits came through once again, delivering a go-ahead RBI single to give the Wolverines a 5-4 lead.

“My thought process was to stay in control of the game and drive in the run. I know I’m the best in Chicago. I just stayed a team player in that moment,” Johnson said.

Payton answered in the top of the sixth, tying the game at 5 on a fielder’s choice RBI by Max MacKenzie.

After back-to-back singles by Jeremiah Henry and Aiden Pondexter to lead off the bottom of the sixth and a 2-0 count on Cavion Danley, Payton brought in Nick Linares to try and stop the bleeding. Linares walked Danley to load the bases, then struck out Daniel Jones Jr. for the first out.

With the count full, Antwan Jackson drew a walk to force in the go-ahead run. On the next at-bat, Grizzlies second baseman John Seward misplayed a Bryce Jones ground ball that brought in Pondexter and Danley, extending the lead to 8-5.

Back on March 30, following Simeon’s 10-8 win over Lincoln Park, head coach Brandon "Smoke" Williams told The Bigs that his team’s confidence would grow as the season wore on.

After Saturday’s win, I asked how far he thinks they've come.

“There’s no better time to come together than now. I send them the same message before every game, and that’s ‘adversity builds character,’ and that’s why we’re playing Monday,” Williams said.

Simeon 

Antonio Porterfield 5 IP 3 H 3 K 6 BB 4 R 

Ben Johnson 2-4/RBI

Bryce Jones 1-4/3 RBI

Cavion Danley 1-4/RBI/R

Antwan Jackson 2-2/RBI