Travis Powers Providence Into 4A Baseball Title Game

Sam Travis homered again. Matt Trowbridge pitched another gem. And the Providence Catholic baseball team marched one step closer to its first state championship in nearly 30 years.

Providence rolled to a 9-1 victory over Prospect in the Class 4A state semifinals on Friday afternoon at Silver Cross Field in Joliet.

Travis connected for a solo homer in the top of the first to get the Celtics (38-3) off and running. He went on to finish 1-for-3 and scored two runs. Dan Potempa and Brady Wilkin each added two hits. Dominic Olszta drove in two runs.

Trowbridge, a senior left-hander who entered with an unblemished record, pushed his record to 9-0. He scattered four hits over seven innings. He struck out four.

Providence will face Lyons Township in the Class 4A state championship game at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Lyons ousted Mount Carmel 4-1. The Celtics are looking to win their first state title since 1982.

Travis, a senior third baseman drafted in the 40th round by the Reds earlier this week, pushed his home run count to 16. He has 73 RBIs in 40 games.