Libertyville’s Carson Holmes Delivers Heroics in State Championship

Carson Holmes, a senior outfielder for Libertyville, overcame a challenging postseason performance to become a pivotal player in the Class 4A state championship game. Despite a .500 batting average in seven postseason games the previous year, Holmes struggled with no hits and six strikeouts in his last ten at-bats before the crucial top of the eighth inning at Wintrust Field in Joliet.

Facing a slump, Holmes tried several different bats in recent games, searching for one that would reignite his success. For the final at-bat of his high school career, he chose his previous year’s bat, which had been reliable for him last season but avoided recently. Holmes described this choice as a mental shift. “It was more of a mental cleansing than anything else,” Holmes said. “What I was doing wasn’t working, so I figured I’d try something else. I decided to go back to old reliable, and it paid off.”

In the thrilling game conclusion, Holmes hit a game-winning single to left field, allowing junior pitcher Madden Cotts to score the decisive run. The Wildcats triumphed over Maine South 7-6, securing their second consecutive state title. “It was a full-count fastball high and in,” Holmes recalled. “At first, I was nervous that it was going to hang up long enough for the left fielder to get to it, but he wasn’t playing very shallow. After I saw it fall, it was an electric feeling.”

Trevor Wallace, a senior shortstop for Libertyville, shared the anticipation in the dugout. “After they saw which bat Carson picked, two guys said, ‘He’s got his old bat. Watch, he’s going to get a hit,’” Wallace said. Holmes maintained his position as the team’s third batter throughout the season, exemplifying the team’s trust and confidence in his abilities.

The Wildcats’ remarkable season was characterized by unwavering teamwork and mutual support. “Even though I wasn’t playing well, I knew that the team would have my back,” Holmes expressed. “We came into the playoffs off a loss, so we knew it wasn’t going to be easy, especially with us being the defending champions and having a target on our backs. But that’s what I love most about this team. Every win was a team win. We played for one another, and by doing that we ended up right where we left off last year.”

Coach Matt Thompson emphasized the confidence they had in Holmes. Before Holmes’ final at-bat, Thompson reinstated him in the game, expressing fidelity and support amidst ups and downs. “During some ups and downs, we had talked to him and reiterated to him that ‘you’re our guy,’” Thompson said. “After those conversations, you don’t expect to get pinch-hit for, and we had faith in him. He was still doing the right things at practice, hitting the ball well in BP. So we were confident in him.”

In the eighth inning, senior outfielder Jack Cenar scored the go-ahead run on a balk, adding dramatic tension to Holmes’ decisive at-bat. Holmes managed to hit to a comparable spot as his RBI single in the previous year’s state final against McHenry.

After the game, Holmes received the game ball, adding it to a collection of cherished memorabilia, including two state medals and championship rings. “I’ve probably watched video of that last at-bat about 30 times, and there are recaps all over social media,” Holmes revealed. “I still can’t believe what happened. It was a perfect storm of us doing all the right things to win.”