June 13--The easiest defense against Morgan Park's greatest strength -- speed -- is not allowing anyone to reach base.
Highland defeated the Mustangs 13-0 in five innings Friday in the second 3A semifinal at Joliet's Silver Cross Field. It's the Bulldogs' second state-final berth and first since winning the title in 2008.
The Bulldogs will face Nazareth at 11:30 a.m. Saturday for the state title. Morgan Park takes on St. Francis for the third-place trophy at 9 a.m.
"We didn't know (Morgan Park) very well at all, but we saw them in pregame, saw some real ability," Highland coach Joel Hawkins said. "I absolutely loved how they ran around the field, around the bases."
Hawkins knew starter Grant Geppert had to control Morgan Park's speed; throwing first-pitch strikes was important, as well as pounding the hitters inside given the Mustangs' preference to bunt and slap the ball the other way. The senior ace was up to the task.
Only four Mustangs reached base, and only once did a runner reach second. Nobody got to third.
"We're one of the fastest teams in the state, so we like to use our speed," Morgan Park coach Ernest Radcliffe said. "But when you get that far behind, you have to change it up a little bit."
Highland (27-13) put pressure on the Morgan Park defense, which responded with four errors resulting in 12 unearned runs. The Bulldogs also stole three bases, playing the athletic small-ball game Morgan Park (25-13) had leaned on all season.
"We had a tough, tough loss today," Radcliffe said. "All I can say is if we played this game again, if we could play this over again, the result would be different. I don't think we were nervous or anything of that nature; I just think the balls didn't fall our way today."
Both Radcliffe and junior pitcher/utility player Christian Bullock, a Michigan recruit, echoed the importance of getting on base and making the routine plays. They stressed that the big, unfamiliar stage didn't rattle them, that it was just a poor performance from a quality team.
"I didn't feel any nerves," Bullock said. "It's good to be nervous, but the talent will always take over. Me and my team, we weren't nervous."
Morgan Park remains in uncharted waters. The downstate trip is the first for the program.
"It's an honor to be here," Bullock said. "Everybody doesn't get this chance. We're taking every second of (these days) in, we're enjoying every part of it."
A Chicago public school has not won a state baseball championship since Hubbard in 1973.
"We're playing the last weekend of high-school baseball," Radcliffe added. "There are hundreds and hundreds of kids that wish they were at this particular place, so we've made history not only for Morgan Park, but for the young people in the inner city, African-Americans that look up to us playing baseball.
"It's our responsibility to keep playing at a high level, it's our responsibility to go out there tomorrow and play 175 percent, and nothing short of that."
Player of the game: Grant Geppert, Highland, 4 IP, 3 H, 2 Ks; 3-4, HR, 2 runs, 3 RBIs.
Key performers: Highland -- Will Greenwald, Tyler Kimmle, 2 RBIs each. Morgan Park -- Christian Bullock, 2-2/3 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 Ks.
