Kmet leads Lions to 3A title game
St. Viator’s Cole Kmet is a wellknown force on the football field. The 6- 5 senior is one of the topranked tight ends in the nation and signed with Notre Dame.
His baseball prowess hasn’t received much attention, but that is starting to change. Kmet’s terrific season at the plate and on the mound has impressed scouts, and it’s possible he could be selected in the MLB draft next week.
On Friday at Silver Cross Field in Joliet, Kmet led the Lions to an 11- 1 victory against Marmion in the Class 3A state semifinals.
Kmet pitched all six innings, allowing six hits and one walk while striking out nine. He was 3- for- 5 at the plate with one RBI. Kmet also plans to play baseball at Notre Dame.
St. Viator coach Mike Manno’s toughest choice was whether to start his ace or save him for the title game.
“We made the right decision,” Manno said. “That is a really good hitting team that we faced today. They had six hits off of Cole. That is a tough team that we just beat. The score is not indicative of how good that team is.”
Marmion ( 21- 17) had six baserunners in the first three innings but was unable to capitalize.
“I knew they were a good hitting team,” Kmet said. “Each guy was tough to get out. I knew it was going to be a battle all day. You just really have to bunker down and take one pitch at a time and throw that pitch in the correct spot, and I was able to get out of it.”
Second baseman Hunter Johnson was 3- for- 4 with two runs and one RBI for St. Viator ( 24- 15). Brett DeSelm had two hits and three RBI, and catcher Mike Witch was 2- for- 4.
The Lions are hitting more than .430 in the playoffs.
“They are doing a great job of passing the baton,” Manno said. “Each guy is stepping up in their own little way. It’s from our senior leadership.”
St. Viator advanced to the state finals last season but lost to Lemont and Bartonville Limestome to finish in fourth place.
“I think our seniors are a lot calmer this year,” Kmet said. “The juniors and sophomores and freshmen are really feeding off that. Last year we came in just kind of happy to be here, kind of just taking it all in. This year we came in on a mission to win this thing. We took care of the first one now.”
St. Viator will play East Suburban Catholic rival Marian Catholic, a 4- 3 winner over Champaign Central, in the Class 3A state title game Saturday.
Drought breakers
Crystal Lake South beat perennial powerhouse New Trier 9- 3 in the Class 4A semifinals. It’s the Gators’ first win at state since 1993.
Kyle Lang ( 10- 0) pitched a complete game. He allowed nine hits and one walk and struck out one.
Noah Tyrrell hit a three- run homer in the first inning, and Crystal Lake South ( 35- 5) never trailed.
The Gators will face Edwardsville in the Class 4A title game.