Elmhurst Explosion Puts 12U Tourney Away With Late Inning Rally

If you heard a loud boom coming from the direction of Lombard this past weekend, it may have been the Elmhurst Explosion.

The hometown 12U baseball team swept the Lombard Memorial Classic defeating the host team, Lombard Lightning, 10 to 6 in the championship game. The Elmhurst Explosion won all 5 games they played in the tournament.

The Explosion were down 2 runs, trailing Lombard 5 to 3 as they took their bats in the bottom of the 5th inning of a 6-inning game. Catcher Ben Fett and outfielder/pitcher Robby Lothian retaliated with the first two swings on the first two pitches, tying the score at 5-5.

Fett and Lothian hit back to back solo home runs on consecutive pitches over the right-center field fence, 210 feet from home plate.  

Despite two pitcher changes from the Lombard Lightning, Elmhurst exploded for five more runs to put the game and the tournament away. Lombard would answer with just a solo home run of their own in the top of the 6th inning, leaving the Elmhurst Explosion 12U team tournament winners for the first time since they started as an 8U travel squad.

The team coaches are Gib Olander, Tom Ryan, Brendan Hill and Mike Meyers.

Submitted by John J. Lothian.