The Chaparrals (11-15) played on April 8, against the Joliet Junior College Wolves (26-7) on a clear day, with winds hitting 18 mph heading towards left field.
Heading into this game, DuPage was looking to bounce back after losing another doubleheader against Bryant & Stratton College on March 30, 2-17 and 2-13. The Chaparrals then had a short break as their doubleheader against Kishwaukee College, scheduled for April 4, was postponed.
Game one started off on a rough note, with Joliet taking a 3-0 lead in the first inning as DuPage failed to respond. Both teams added a run in the second, and DuPage was hoping to build momentum to tie up the next inning. But Joliet’s bats came alive, scoring eight runs in the third and seven in the fourth taking control of the game. The Chaps could only respond with two and three runs, respectively.
Heading into the fifth inning, DuPage managed to hold the Wolves to only one run, making the score 6-20 going into the bottom half. But DuPage didn’t go down without a fight, getting runners on base and scoring five runs with help from the wind. The late push created some momentum, as the Joliet bench grew silent hoping to get out of it.
But Joliet ultimately stopped the bleeding, as DuPage lost the first game 11-20. Still, they now had some momentum in their favor heading into the second game.
Despite that, game two started with a 11-run first inning for the Wolves setting the tone for the entire game. DuPage would have their only one run in the game in the bottom of the first.
DuPage did manage to hold Joliet to one and two runs respectively in the next two innings but tension began to rise as coaches of both teams started arguing. COD coach Barry Froehle didn’t agree with a call from the umpires, while Joliet’s Mike Bednarz also got involved, leading to a short exchange between the two.
But tension still remained as two got at it again after a close play at third base in the second inning, where Bednarz started arguing with COD third baseman Jenna Maples over the play being called out. This led to Froehle arguing again with Bednarz over talking with his players. Soon, the home plate ump issued a final warning to Froehle.
Joliet scored eight and five runs in the last two innings, while holding the Chaps to zero runs. This led to a 1-27 loss for the Chaparrals, putting their record at 11-17.
DuPage then went on the road to River Grove, Ill to play a double header against Triton College on April 10. The Chaps lost to Triton 4-6 and 7-13, but won against Harper, with a 13-9 victory. The Chaps then traveled to Oglesby, Ill to play against Harper College and Kishwaukee College on April 11, and played Illinois Valley Community College and Joliet Junior College again on April 12. COD took a 1-12 loss to Kishwaukee, a 5-11 loss to Illinois Valley and another loss to Joliet, 2-12.
The Chaps this week will go back on the road to South Holland to play a doubleheader vs. the South Suburban College Bulldogs on April 14. Then play the rest of the week at home with a doubleheader against the Moraine Valley Community College Cyclones on April 16, at 3 p.m., followed by back to back days of doubleheaders starting April 18, against the Kankakee Community College Cavaliers at noon, then the Morton College Panthers on April 19, at 3 p.m. to finish the week off.
