The Oak Park and River Forest High School baseball team saw its remarkable run of 14 consecutive regional titles come to an end last year when rival Lyons Township beat the Huskies 5-3 in a regional championship game.
Most people would assume that loss would be a catalyst for the Huskies this spring, but OPRF coach Chris Ledbetter begs to differ.
“When we won the state title in 2012, it was such a process from Day 1 until the last day of the season,” Ledbetter said. “It came together because of the dynamics of the group.
“We had five or six guys returning in 2013 and I felt bad for the kids returning because everyone expected them [to win again].
“But my point is, when the new team came in that was the start of a new journey. It was a different dynamic. Just because you return five or six starters, it doesn’t mean that this year’s team isn’t different.”
The Huskies, who were 26-10 last spring, once again have a half-dozen starters returning, but Ledbetter has told them to forget about 2014 and focus on what could be another great year.
“I’m excited because it is baseball season,” Ledbetter said. “They’re excited because it’s a new year. We are eager to get started.”
OPRF, which is scheduled to open the season March 21 with a home doubleheader against Glenbrook South, has strength up the middle and at the top of the batting order, which bodes well for a strong season.
Senior catcher Patrick Rumoro, a Louisville signee, is back for his third season as a starter, while junior Jeremy Gaines, who has verbally committed to Missouri, moves from center field to second base, where he forms a good double-play combination with junior shortstop Andrew Hennings. The other returning starters are senior third baseman Jack Fitzgerald, senior outfielder/pitcher Ryan Fish and senior pitcher Chris Atwood.
Ledbetter expects big things from Fish and Atwood, who have yet to reach their ceilings. Fish will play at Jefferson Junior College in Missouri, a program that has produced Mark Buehrle and Cliff Politte, while Atwood, a late-blooming 6-3 lefty, has signed with Wisconsin-Oshkosh, the alma mater of Ledbetter and Major League star Jarrod Washburn.
 “[Atwood] drew major attention late,” Ledbetter said. “You don’t see that very often now because they are recruiting these kids so much earlier. They don’t wait for kids to develop. He’s still young and raw.”
While Ledbetter hasn’t discussed goals with his players and doesn’t like to make projections, he does point out that between 2001 and 2012, OPRF and LTHS combined to make six appearances in the state championship game, winning three. Don’t be surprised if the West Suburban Silver rivals make another strong run.
“There is not a clear-cut favorite but everyone’s got a poker hand,” Ledbetter said. “The thing I love about our conference is even in a year when it’s down, it is still extremely competitive. In 2012 we were third in the conference and won state.”
In addition to strong pitching and defense, the Huskies have an advantage Ledbetter believes is crucial to contending for a state title.
“Our biggest key for is us, because the game has changed so much, is speed,” Ledbetter said. “The days of two good teams putting together six-hit innings are gone.
“We have something that is very special. We have two kids that can flat out fly.”
That would be Gaines and Atwood, who will bat first and second. Ledbetter hasn’t decided who will hit third, but one candidate is Fish, who is a dead pull hitter when he bats lefty.
“If [Gaines and Atwood] get on base, they have the type of speed to steal bases, even if the pitcher is short to home plate and the catcher is good,” Ledbetter said. “Jeremy can be on third base in two pitches.”
The Huskies also have more depth than last year’s squad, with varsity returners Jack Stannard, Graham Nagle-Deamer and Evan Bell being joined by promising newcomers like juniors Dali Durazo, Will Johnson, Connor Nelson, Griffin Kelly, Luke McMahon and Joe Cundari.
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