Jordan Mikel propels Plainfield South into summer baseball state title game

SCHAUMBURG – The Plainfield South baseball team continues to thrive on strong pitching.

It was senior right-hander Jordan Mikel’s turn to carry the torch in Wednesday’s 6-3 semifinal victory over Naperville Central that vaulted the Cougars into Thursday’s 7 p.m. championship game of the Illinois Baseball Coaches Association Phil Lawler Summer State Tournament at Boomers Stadium.

Brother Rice beat Huntley, 3-0, in the later semifinal and will face South for the title.

Mikel moved in from his second base position to relieve starter Trey Ricko with the Cougars trailing, 3-2, after 31/2 innings and was nothing short of brilliant. He worked four shutout innings, allowing one hit, walking two and striking out five.

For good measure, he also delivered a two-run double that was the key hit in a four-run bottom of the fourth inning that erased the 3-2 deficit and put the Cougars (16-3) ahead to stay.

“I had a good day at the plate. It felt good to get the big two-run double,” Mikel said.

His contributions continued, big time, on the mound.

“Jordan was getting his curveball over, and when he does that, he is dominant,” South coach Phil Bodine said.

“My first inning was tough, but then I settled down and started throwing strikes,” Mikel said. “The curveball was keeping them off balance. That was my best pitch.”

South’s Nick Enloe broke a scoreless deadlock when he belted a run-scoring double in the bottom of the third inning. An error on the play on the left fielder allowed a second run to score and Enloe to reach third base.

“I got a fastball, and that’s what I look for,” said Enloe, who lobbied for a triple on his big hit, but to no avail. “I don’t like curveballs.”

Naperville Central, however, came back with three runs and knocked out Ricko in the top of the fourth. Ricko finished allowing three earned runs on five hits in three-plus innings.

After South took its 6-3 lead in the bottom of the fourth, Naperville Central threatened in the fifth. The first two batters reached. Mikel retired the next two before Jack Baxter ripped a hard ground ball that appeared headed for the left-field corner. But third baseman Brad Roberts stabbed it for the defensive play of the game and stepped on third for an inning-ending forceout.

Mikel took care of the rest.

“His curveball was really working today,” said Cougars sophomore catcher Justin McGuigan, who laid down his fifth bunt single of the tournament. “I’m thrilled that we’re playing for a state championship.”

“It’s great to be playing for a state championship,” Bodine said. “This is great for the kids because they are playing for a state title with their high school team. The travel teams are more of an individual thing. These are lessons in life they are learning with this team. They are dealing with teammates they will be dealing with as friends the next 25 years of their lives.”

South entered the state tournament after winning last week’s Lockport Regional. The Cougars opened their state bid with a 3-2 win over Naperville Central on Monday behind Austin Marozas. Konnor Ash was a workhorse Tuesday in a 2-1 victory over St. Charles North.

And now, with Mikel delivering the goods Wednesday, Bodine’s team is one victory away from a state title.