This is a game I’d had every intention on attending. I’ve been asking everybody at US Cellular Field, “When’s the Public League Championship game going to be?” Nobody could tell me, I guess I should have asked Caramel Corn Mike, I’m sure he was out there behind home plate selling his caramel corn, only feet from where I’d have been standing, had I only known.
The game was May 27th at US Cellular Field, the same day as the NCAA Division III Championship was taking place in Appleton, WI. But I was in Chicago, having returned from Waupaca, WI the day before. I’ve always had strong ties to the Chicago Public League, having represented Spalding High School, back in the day, on the chess team.
This contest featured Whitney Young trying to repeat as champs versus Lake View. My girlfriend when I was in 7th grade lived next door to Lake View at Irving Park & Ashland, on the northside. Young is a magnet school on the southside, you have to be really smart to go there.
Lake View scored in the first inning when Deion Geiger singled home Carlos Ruiz with the first run of the ballgame. The lead held up until the top of the 5th when Young’s Jack Cinoman reached on an error. Valmer Jordan laid down a bunt, the pitcher field it, but his throw caromed into centerfield, sending the runners to 2nd & 3rd. A fake squeeze play was called, the pitcher balked in a run, moments later a wild pitch plated another.
Joe Frahm kept the Lake View hitters off balance all day with a steady diet of offspeed stuff was the winner for Young over tough luck loser, Geiger. Final score Whitney Young 2, Lake View 1.