CHICAGO | Mount Carmel didn't waste much time in flexing its muscles Thursday.
The Caravan got back-to-back homers from Sam Kint and T.J. Laurisch in the first inning and never trailed as they beat Clemente 12-2 in six innings in one semifinal of the Class 4A Mount Carmel Sectional at Haggerty Field.
The Caravan (30-7) will face Oak Park-River Forest at 11 a.m. Saturday for the championship. Last year, the Huskies knocked Mount Carmel out of the tournament.
Kint was 3-for-4 and Laurisch was 3-for-3 and was also the winning pitcher. Kint hit a two-run shot with Jerry Houston aboard off Clemente start Jonathan Figueroa.
"He left a fastball up high," Kint said. "I like those pitches, so I jumped on it. and hit it."
Laurisch followed with a blast to right-centerfield.
"I guessed curveball and he hung it up there," Laurisch said. "I was seeing the ball pretty well and felt comfortable at the plate."
Clemente (23-7) got two runs in the second when Roberto Berdecia hit a two-run homer off Laurisch.
Laurisch didn't allow another run as he struck out five and walked none.
"I didn't have my best stuff today, so I was just trying to hit the spots," Laurisch said. "I got a lot of help from my fielders and a lot of help from the bats. Getting a lead makes you more relaxed out there."
The Caravan did not commit an error and had 11 hits. Tom Hayes hit a three-run homer in the third that hit the back of the berm in right-center to put his team up 6-0. Mount Carmel added another run in the fourth, four in the fifth and ended the game with an RBI single from Laurisch.
"I felt pretty comfortable at the plate today," Laurisch said. "We all hit the ball pretty hard and got key hits."
Caravan coach Brian Hurry said Laurisch went out and did what he was expected to do.
"T.J. battled and did a good job of hitting his spots," Hurry said. "He got the ball over and let the defense take care of the rest."
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