Holmes’ Clutch Hit Secures Libertyville’s State Title

Libertyville senior outfielder Carson Holmes didn’t appear to be a hero in waiting for the Class 4A state championship. Despite his success last year with a .500 average in the postseason, Holmes entered with ten hitless at-bats and six strikeouts before batting in the top of the eighth. ‘I was slumping,’ Holmes admitted.

In recent games, he experimented with different bats hoping for change. For his final high school plate appearance, Holmes returned to a familiar bat used predominantly last year. ‘It was more mental cleansing,’ he stated. ‘What I was doing failed, so I tried something else. I went back to reliable, and it worked.’

His decision paid off when Holmes hit the game-winning single to left field. This allowed junior pitcher Madden Cotts to score the decisive run, clinching a 7-6 victory over Maine South. ‘It was a fastball high and in,’ Holmes described. ‘Initially, I worried it might hang long enough for a catch, but the left fielder wasn’t shallow. When it dropped, it was electric.’

Senior shortstop Trevor Wallace shared that teammates expressed confidence when Holmes chose his old bat. ‘Two said, “He’s going to get a hit,”’ Wallace recalled. ‘Holmes batted third all year, so everyone trusted him despite his struggle.’

The Wildcats (31-10-1) showed strong camaraderie. Holmes valued this connection, saying, ‘Even playing poorly, the team had my back. We knew the playoffs would be tough as defending champs. Each win was a team win.’

Curious fans observed Libertyville coach Matt Thompson’s discussion with an umpire when senior Nicholas Farmakis briefly replaced Holmes. Thompson affirmed Holmes’ role stating, ‘He’s our guy. His practice performance gave us confidence.’

Jack Cenar scored on a balk before Holmes’ final hit, giving Holmes a moment to breathe. The critical single mirrored a previous success on the same field in last year’s 4-1 state win over McHenry. Maine South scored late, but Holmes’ earlier contribution was pivotal.

Holmes later received the game ball, adding to awards from his high school journey. ‘I’ve replayed that last at-bat many times,’ Holmes mentioned. ‘Recaps are everywhere. It felt like a perfect storm of right moves for the win.’