Sports
Gimme 5: DeMatteo Hits and is Da Bomb
Lincoln-Way Central senior smacks game-winning home run on Opening Day for the Knights.
Lincoln-Way Central first baseman/designated hitter Kevin DeMatteo was joking with starting pitcher Matt Mikolajczak after last Thursday’s season-opening victory against Marmion that he was on pace to hit 40 home runs this season.
Who knows how many DeMatteo will end up hitting, but his blast last week couldn’t have come at a better time, as it was all the support Mikolajczak would need in a 2-1 victory.
“I just saw my pitch, a fastball middle-in,” DeMatteo said.
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For those curious, the IHSA record book lists Scott Riley ss the single-season home run record holder with 23 for Pittsfield in 1999. Former White Sox player Kelly Dransfeldt slugged 20 for Morris in 1993 and MLB star Jayson Werth hammered 17 in 1997 for Chatham Glenwood. According to ihsa.org, 16 different players have hit 17 or more home runs in a single Illinois high school season.
