Throughout Mount Carmel’s playoff journey, senior catcher Mario Medina has been a constant leader. Despite often using few words, Medina has kept his team calm and focused. Returning the Caravan to state for the first time in 11 years meant everything to him.
“It was a big game and a special moment,” Medina said. “I’ve been with these guys for four years, and these are like my brothers. There was nowhere else I’d want to be.”
Medina made significant contributions in Friday night’s game against defending Class 4A champion Libertyville. He was responsible for one of Mount Carmel’s three hits and executed a key defensive play with a tag at home plate. Yet, it was not enough to defeat Libertyville, who secured a 3-1 victory in the semifinal at Slammers Stadium in Joliet.
Connor Elenteny, a Notre Dame recruit, pitched for the Caravan, striking out five over six innings. He allowed three earned runs on six hits. Joey Ireland, an Illinois commit, contributed with a double and an RBI walk, while Triton recruit Logan Fernandez added a base hit.
“I just wish I could do more,” Elenteny expressed after the game.
The game marked the end of Mount Carmel’s championship dreams, though not without a fight. Entering the seventh inning with a 3-0 deficit, the Caravan managed three walks. Pancho Vazquez was hit by a pitch, eventually scoring to bring the score to 3-1. With the bases loaded, Fernandez’s fly out to center field concluded the game.
“I was saying the whole time, ‘We’ve got to find a way,'” Ireland said. “We almost found a way there at the end. I was proud of the guys. We fought all year. That was just what we’ve been doing all year. We just came up a little short.”
Medina and senior right fielder Haiden Lajcin collaborated on a crucial defensive play in the third inning. With runners on second and third, Lajcin caught a fly ball and delivered a strong throw home. Medina caught the ball and applied the tag just before Braden Tolzien reached the plate, keeping Mount Carmel’s deficit at 3-0.
“I saw the ball go out there and I was just thinking, ‘Four, four, four,’” Medina said. “The throw was there and I just had to dive in for the tag. It definitely felt like a big momentum shift.”
Mount Carmel coach Brian Hurry praised the play:
“That was an unreal play by Haiden and Mario,” Hurry said. “A great throw and a great tag.”
Medina has been a key player throughout his career by playing strong defense and guiding a successful pitching staff.
“I’ve tried to step up as a leader this year,” Medina said. “I don’t know if they felt it, but that’s what I tried to do.”
Elenteny confirmed Medina’s impact:
“He’s the best that you can get,” Elenteny said. “He doesn’t say much, but he’s still the biggest leader on the field. He’s been like a rock for our team. There’s nobody else I’d rather throw to.”
Mount Carmel’s current roster includes many seniors who have played together for years, forming a core group that aims to leave a strong legacy.
“They’ve certainly made their mark on a program that has a lot of tradition and a lot of pride,” Hurry said. “Over the last three or four years that I’ve taken the field with these guys, it’s a lifetime of memories.”