Stepping into a starting role, senior catcher Sam Webb gets on a roll at plate for Providence. ‘It’s awesome.’
Playing time was tough to come by for Sam Webb the last couple years as he was behind all-state catcher Enzo Infelise on the depth chart for Providence. Now, not only is Webb finally getting his chance, the senior catcher is hitting in the cleanup spot for the Celtics. Quite the leap from the bench.
“It’s awesome,” Webb said. “Honestly, there is pressure hitting in the middle of the lineup after not playing much before, but you just have to overcome it for your guys. ” Webb, a Wisconsin-Parkside recruit, is doing a fine job of that.
He delivered the biggest hit in one of the Celtics’ biggest wins of the season Thursday, ripping a go-ahead two-run double in the seventh inning as Providence rallied for a 6-5 win over crosstown rival Lincoln-Way Central in a Do It Stevie’s Way Tournament pool-play game in New Lenox. Heartland recruit Sammy Atkinson went 3-for-4 with three runs and two triples, including a leadoff triple that sparked a three-run seventh as the Celtics (16-14) came back from a 5-3 deficit. Kankakee Community College commit Landon Ehman finished 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Mason Almazan allowed one run over the final two innings to earn the victory on the mound.
“Me and coach (Mark) Smith usually just have a little fist bump after the game, but he came up to me after the game and gave me a big hug and said, ‘We needed this one,’” Atkinson said. “We truly did. This is the kind of game that can turn a team from on its back to thriving again.
” Luke Tingley went 2-for-2 with two runs and a double for the host Knights (14-14). Illinois Wesleyan recruit Conor McCabe finished 2-for-3 with an RBI single, while Alex Panos threw a strong 5 1/3 innings, striking out four and allowing three earned runs. The result means Hinsdale Central wins the pool to advance to the Do It Stevie’s Way Tournament semifinals while both the Celtics and Knights will play consolation games.