JOLIET | When Mount Carmel's Jeff Boehm was announced before Friday's Class 4A state semifinal against Lyons Twp., the Silver Cross Field public address announcer called him, "BAME" with a long "A" sound.
People had been calling him "BOME" with a long "O," but Boehm said the public address announcer was right.
"That is how it is supposed to be pronounced -- 'BAME,'" the Kentucky-bound senior said. "My grandma used to get mad when it was pronounced 'BOME.' It is a German name."
That was all Greek to Mount Carmel coach Brian Hurry.
"Four years and now he tells me," Hurry said after the Caravan's 4-1 loss. "I didn't know that, honest."
No instant replay needed: Mount Carmel right fielder Jason Gasser was called out to start the top of the third, but Hurry questioned the call and the call was reversed.
Hurry said the throw pulled Lyons Twp.'s Brian Rodemoyer off the bag and the first baseman didn't get his foot back in time. Chris Sujka followed with a bunt single, but the Caravan couldn't capitalize.
Hayes comes through: Designated hitter Tom Hayes had two of Mount Carmel's seven hits. He had a double in the fourth and single in the sixth, but was stranded both times as the Caravan left 10 men on base.
Zach attack: Lyons pitcher Zach Remijas went six-plus innings, but got out of jam after jam with his curveball.
"I'm not really a power pitcher," Remijas said. "I just focus on getting ground balls for our infielders to get the outs."
On the season, Remijas is 11-0 with an 0.66 ERA.
Did you know?: Of the four teams that advanced to this weekend's Class 4A state finals, only one had gone even as far as a sectional last season.
Mount Carmel dropped a 12-8 decision Oak Park-River Forest in a 2010 sectional semifinal. Providence and Lyons Twp. each lost in regional finals, while Prospect dropped its playoff opener.
Good pitching versus good hitting: Something had to give Friday night between Mount Carmel's powerful bats and Lyons Twp.'s shutdown pitching.
The Caravan entered the state finals averaging more than 8.6 runs per game, but Lions ace Zach Remijas brought a 0.61 earned-run average to the mound, the lowest ERA among any pitcher at Silver Cross Field this weekend who had logged at least 10 innings.
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