Malinowski's Walk-Off Single Lifts Joliet West to WJOL Title

Joliet West defeats Lockport in extra innings to claim first-ever tournament championship

Apr. 5, 2026 at 2:03am

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In a dramatic extra-inning finish, Bobby Malinowski delivered a walk-off RBI single to lift Joliet West to an 8-7 victory over Lockport in the championship game of the WJOL/Don Ladas Memorial Tournament. The win gave Joliet West its first-ever tournament title, with Malinowski's father Scott serving as Lockport's head coach.

Why it matters

The WJOL/Don Ladas Memorial Tournament is a prestigious high school baseball event in the Joliet area, and this championship marks a significant milestone for the Joliet West program. The dramatic finish, with a son defeating his father's team, adds an extra layer of intrigue to the story.

The details

Joliet West rallied from a 7-4 deficit in the 7th inning to tie the game, setting the stage for Malinowski's heroics in the 9th. With runners on second and third and no outs, Malinowski delivered the game-winning hit to right field, capping off a thrilling tournament run for the Tigers that included extra-inning wins in the quarterfinals and semifinals.

  • The championship game was played on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
  • Joliet West won its first-ever WJOL/Don Ladas Memorial Tournament title.

The players

Bobby Malinowski

A player for Joliet West who delivered the game-winning hit in the 9th inning to lift his team to the tournament championship. His father, Scott Malinowski, is the head coach of the opposing team, Lockport.

Keegan Schwarting

The tournament MVP for Joliet West, who drove in three runs with a double in the 1st inning to give his team an early lead.

John Karczewski

The head coach of the Joliet West baseball team, who guided his squad to the tournament title after close wins in the quarterfinals and semifinals.

Scott Malinowski

The head coach of the Lockport baseball team, whose son Bobby delivered the game-winning hit against him in the championship game.

Jack Schick

A player for Lockport who hit a game-tying double in the 7th inning to even the score at 7-7 and force extra innings.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, I thought they were going to walk me. But as soon as they didn't intentionally walk me, I was looking for strikes right off the bat.”

— Bobby Malinowski, Joliet West Player

“We just stayed calm. I don't really change my emotion, just kind of stay calm and remain that way the whole game, and I think that it has worked well with this group.”

— John Karczewski, Joliet West Head Coach

What’s next

Joliet West will look to build on its first-ever WJOL/Don Ladas Memorial Tournament championship as it prepares for the upcoming state playoffs. The team's resilience and composure under pressure will be key assets as they aim to make a deep postseason run.

The takeaway

This thrilling championship game showcased the intense rivalries and family connections that can exist in high school sports. Joliet West's ability to overcome adversity and deliver in the clutch moments proved to be the difference, as they claimed their first-ever tournament title in dramatic fashion.