Providence's Green Machine Producing Runs in Bunches

1. Providence (21-3): Green Machine offense fueled by Sam Travis. Who else? Travis had two hits and four RBIs in a 13-3 victory over Mount Carmel. The Celtics scored 33 runs in wins over Plainfield North and the Caravan. Last week: No. 1.

2. Lincoln-Way North (18-3): It’s Harper, but not bizarre. Jake Harper (5-1) is mowing down the opposition. He scattered three hits and struck out seven in the Phoenix’s 15-2 five-inning victory over Andrew. Last week: No. 4.

3. Lincoln-Way East (17-6): You can shop online for a Big Bang Theory Bazinga T-shirt. Or, if you’re a Griffin fan, you can get creative and make a  “Huizinga” replica. Why not? Dan Huizinga went 2-for-3 and blasted a three-run homer in East’s 8-7 victory over Stagg. He drove in four runs. Last week: No. 3.

4. Rich Central (15-3-1): Two straight losses have Olympians looking to regroup and rekindle firepower. Fielding miscues were costly in 12-6 setback to Homewood-Flossmoor. Ryan Clarke doubled and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Last week: No. 2.

5. Oak Forest (16-4): Loss to Crete-Monee (8-5) does little to diminish the glow of the Bengals’ big week. Tim Barry becomes state’s all-time career home run and RBI leader. Kyle Funkhouser tosses a perfect game. Good stuff. Last week: Unranked.

Next best (in alphabetical order): Andrew, Chicago Christian, Homewood-Flossmoor, Richards, Sandburg.

(Covering the following Patch communities: Chicago Heights, Evergreen Park, Frankfort, Homewood-Flossmoor, Mokena, New Lenox, Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Orland, Palos, Tinley Park and the neighboring private schools that draw students from those communities).