Giants’ comeback is too little and too late as 24-win campaign closes

Every story ends.

Highland Park baseball coach Jason Newburger reflected on that truth Saturday when one of the Giants best seasons in recent memory came to its conclusion.

“This is an unbelievable group of kids, and we’re going to miss those six seniors for sure,” he said. “The worst part about playoff baseball is at some point it ends, whether you’re winning a regional title, a sectional title or a state title. The saddest part about this time of the year is that we’re not coming back to practice on Monday.

“We’re going to miss these guys a lot, especially the seniors, but the future is bright for the Giants due to the leadership of the last couple senior groups we had.” 

With a 5-2 loss to the sectional’s No. 2 seed, Libertyville, on Saturday in Hoffman Estates, No. 7 Highland Park’s 24-win season came to a close.

The Giants (24-11) dominated the Central Suburban North Division, winning 13 straight games to start league play en route to the division title. Their 24 wins were the program’s most since 2009, and they placed six players on the All-CSL North team, including the division’s player of the year, senior Ben Lichtenfeld.

Against potent Libertyville (31-4), the Giants hung tough. The Wildcats scored a run in each of the first three innings to take the early lead, while their starter, Chase Lockwood, kept Highland Park’s bats at bay.

Libertyville’s two-run home run in the fifth was a big blow to the Giants, who finally found a spark in their final at-bats.

Lichtenfeld and JT Killeen reached base to start the rally, and then back-to-back RBI doubles from Trent Harradine and Patrick Feder got Highland Park on the scoreboard. Not only that, the successful stretch brought the game-tying run to home plate.

But a full comeback was not meant to be.

“We don’t quit,” Lichtenfeld said. “We knew it was our last inning and we gave it our all.”

The late effort was nothing new to Newburger.

“It’s not surprising for this group,” the coach said. “The character of our group I’d put up against any high school team in the country. Our six seniors have really led this program, helped lead it last year and then coming back this year. I can’t say enough about this group.”

The Giants also played Libertyville tough in a 1-0 loss in early May.

Seniors Lichtenfeld pitched a complete game two-hitter in the Giants’ regional-opening win and then played infield on Saturday. Lichtenfeld and senior infielder Charlie Cohen were named to the All-CSL North team. Lichtenfeld was the division’s player of the year.

The senior leader pointed to the team’s defense as a key to this year’s success, and that starts, he said, with chemistry.

“Our chemistry is so good,” the senior said. “We’re all great friends who all like to come to the field every day. It’s fun to play with each other every day.”

Highland Park’s other All-Conference selections highlight the program’s bright future. Sophomore shortstop and pitcher Simon Rose and junior third baseman Harradine, pitcher Cooper Casdin and catcher Josh Midanek all earned the honors.

“More baseball with this group will always be fun,” Newburger said. “I would take them any day of the week. It’s a great group. We have a lot of good kids in our baseball program, and we’re just fortunate to be cast with coaching these guys.” 

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