Porterfield Delivers Walk-Off in Sectional Semis

The senior redeems a rough day with a clutch knock to send Simeon to Saturday's final vs. Walter Payton

(L-R) Christian Lott, Antonio Porterfield, Jeremiah Henry and Antwan Jackson

CHICAGO - The beauty of baseball was on full display Thursday night at De La Salle during the Brooks Sectional Semifinals.

Simeon junior Antonio Porterfield wears his heart on his sleeve. He was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and an error heading into the biggest at-bat of the game—bases loaded, one out, bottom of the eighth.

“He got mad after his at-bat before that last one and I told him, ‘You better get it together and be ready because it’s going to come down to you,’” Wolverines head coach Brandon "Smoke" Williams told The Bigs. “I didn’t know if that would be offensively or defensively.”

It turned out to be with the bat—and Porterfield didn’t let the moment get too big. His walk-off single lifted Simeon to a dramatic 4–3 win over Morgan Park, punching their ticket to Saturday’s sectional final against Walter Payton at Brooks.

The Wolverines jumped out early, scoring three in the bottom of the first, led by a two-run homer from First Team All- City catcher Antwan Jackson.

Morgan Park chipped away, cutting the lead to one in the fifth on RBI singles from shortstop Jayvion Price and first baseman Trinity Lovett. Then in the top of the seventh, they tied it on a controversial play. With two outs, Lovett hit a grounder and collided with Porterfield at first. The ball popped loose, and the umpire ruled Lovett safe—tying the game at three.

Morgan Park’s duo of starter Keenan Harrell and reliever Braylon McNair combined for 12 strikeouts and kept Simeon scoreless for six straight innings.

But Simeon’s pitching was equally dominant. Starter Jeremiah Henry and CPL Pitcher of the Year Christian Lott combined for 16 strikeouts while allowing just one walk.

Now, it’s Porterfield’s turn on the bump. The senior will start Saturday as Simeon looks to punch its ticket to the Supersectional next Wednesday at UIC.

Simeon

#3 Christian Lott 3 IP/3 H/8 K/1 BB/1 R

#24 Antonio Porterfield 1-4/walk-off single

#7 Jeremiah Henry 5 IP/6 H/8 K/2 R

#5 Antwan Jackson 2-3/HR/2 RBI