The Stinson and Patterson brothers lead Kenwood to the city title

Fraternal twins Evan and Brandon Stinson have played baseball with Jonathan Patterson Jr. for almost a decade: from Little League to travel baseball and now at Kenwood. The three seniors were joined by Jonathan’s brother, sophomore Josiah Patterson, on the Broncos’ varsity this season.

Kenwood coach Romey Bracey says having so many family members on his team is great: “They don’t fight with each other and they have a bond.”

The Stinsons and Pattersons teamed up to bring another city title to Kenwood on Thursday at UIC’s Curtis Granderson Stadium.

Brandon Stinson had the Broncos’ championship dreams on his shoulders with two out and the score tied in the top of the seventh.

“I’ve been in big situations before,” Stinson said. “And [Lane] knew I’d been hot all day. The first pitch curveball I saw, I knew I was swinging. I stayed back and did what I do.”

Stinson drove a single into left field, knocking in the go-ahead run from second base.

“It felt like a barrel,” Stinson said. “It felt amazing. I love playing in front of people. There is no better feeling.”

Josiah Patterson shut down Lane in the bottom of the seventh and Kenwood earned a 10-9 win and the Public League baseball title.

“When I finally get home and sit in bed I’ll take it all in,” Stinson said. “We finally did it. It’s always us against Lane and to win it feels great.”

Patterson pitched the final three innings. He allowed four runs in the sixth inning as Lane (24-10) tied the game at nine.

“It was very nerve-wracking,” Patterson said. “All the hype was on Lane’s side in the sixth inning. The energy from my team [helped in the seventh]. They picked me up and my mindset changed.”

Brandon Stinson was 5 for 5 with two runs scored and a RBI. Evan Stinson started the game for the Broncos (17-6-1). He allowed five runs and five hits in four innings.

Kenwood scored six runs in the first inning and led 8-2 after two innings. Lane was hampered by sloppy defense and starting pitcher Charles Lust, a sophomore, was pulled in the first inning after eight batters.

Freshman Dodger Friedrich steadied the ship for Lane, pitching the final 5 1/3 innings and holding the Broncos to just one run until Stinson’s game-winning hit in the seventh.

“We knew [Lane] was going to hit,” Stinson said. “They are a good club. We knew they would come back so we stayed ready. We wanted this one.”

Senior Phillip Thigpen had three hits, two runs and a RBI for Kenwood. Senior Lance Moon contributed three hits and two RBI for the Broncos. Jonathan Patterson Jr. had one hit, scored a run and made the biggest defensive play of the game.

With the bases loaded and one out in the third Patterson made a sensational diving catch, got up and threw to second for an inning-ending double play.

“I knew I had to make the play,” Patterson said. “I ran full speed, dove and put my body on the line.”

Lane tied the game on Miles Mazanowski’s two-run single to left field in the sixth. Lane beat Kenwood 5-3 in the championship game last year at Wrigley Field.

This year it was the Broncos’ turn to celebrate.

“This is everything,” Evan Stinson said. “We’ll be talking about this with our kids, how we went out with a bang with this big win.”