Lemont baseball earns third state trophy, finishes as IHSA Class 3A State Runner-Up

Lemont High School’s baseball team enjoyed a magical playoff run that culminated with the program’s third state trophy. After topping Highland by a 6-3 score in the state semifinals, head coach Brian Storako’s team dropped a 3-2 decision to Crystal Lake Central in the 2024 IHSA Class 3A State Championship, which was contested at Joliet’s Duly Health and Care Field on June 8. Lemont closed the season with 17 wins in its last 19 games.

After two scoreless innings in the title game, Lemont took the lead in the top of the third when Cannon Madej singled and eventually scored on a passed ball. Its advantage extended to 2-0 in the fourth inning on an RBI single from Nick Berardi.

Starter Jacob Parr kept Crystal Lake off the board until the fifth inning, when the Tigers used a walk, two hit batters and a single to score twice and tie the game. Crystal Lake Central plated the eventual game-winning run on an RBI triple off Madej in the sixth inning.

Lemont totaled seven hits in the state title game, while Parr went 4.1 innings and allowed two runs on two hits and struck out five in a no decision. Madej struck out three in his inning of relief but took the loss.

In the state semifinal game on June 7, Lemont spotted Highland a 1-0 lead in the third inning. However, Brett Tucker gave Lemont the lead in the fourth inning with a two-run triple, and eventually scored on a Berardi RBI single. Matt Devoy drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning, and Max Michalak provided insurance with a two-run single in the sixth.

Tucker finished the day with a double, triple, two RBIs and a run scored. Starter Shea Glotzbach earned the win by tossing five-plus innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits while striking out three. Donovan Moleski struck out two in two innings of relief.

IHSA Baseball Website

Seeded fourth in the sectional, Lemont outscored its opponents by a combined 39-4 and posted three shutouts on its five-game march to the state finals. After a 3-1 win over Tinley Park in the IHSA Lemont Regional title game, it rode outstanding pitching performances to knock off top-seeded St. Laurence (9-0) and second-seeded St. Rita (1-0) in the IHSA Evergreen Park Sectional, and came from behind to defeat De La Salle (4-3) in the IHSA Crestwood Super-Sectional.

Storako’s team finished with a 31-10 record and was the runner-up in the South Suburban Conference-Blue Division. Lemont reached the 30-win plateau for the fourth time in program history, and its 31 wins rank second on the school’s single-season list (35 - 2014).

Lemont made its third appearance in the IHSA State Finals; it won the IHSA Class 3A State Championship in both 2014 and 2016.