Entering the IHSA Class 4A baseball tournament, both Oak Park and River Forest and Fenwick were favored to meet in the Fenwick Regional title game, which would’ve been a rematch from May 8 (an 8-2 OPRF victory). But in a stunning turn of events, neither the Huskies nor the Friars made it there as each team lost its opening playoff game to lower-seeded opponents.
On May 22, OPRF (22-14), the sixth seed at Reavis, lost to #12 St. Ignatius 7-2. It’s the third consecutive year the Huskies have lost their first playoff game.
“We started off the game solid,” said OPRF coach Kevin Campbell. “Unfortunately, things imploded on us.”
OPRF led 1-0 in the top of the fourth when St. Ignatius broke out for five runs. OPRF starter Luke Gotti (3 IP, 5 R (one unearned), 5 H, 2 BB, 2 K) failed to retire any of the first five Wolfpack batters as shaky defense and pitching were problematic for the Huskies in the frame.
“We made an error with the bases loaded,” Campbell said. “Also, any time you walk multiple guys in an inning, it’s going to hurt a lot.”
Peter Ferren relieved Gotti and went 2.1 innings, allowing two runs, two hits, one walk and one strikeout.
“He and Cole Benson (1.2 scoreless innings) stepped up, stopped the bleeding and gave us a chance,” Campbell said.
Trailing 7-1 in the bottom of the sixth, OPRF seemed poised to rally when it loaded the bases with no outs. But the Huskies managed just one run as Johnny Nelson was called out on strikes, Eddie Bravo hit into an RBI fielder’s choice, and Ryan Slade flied out.
“Not capitalizing on opportunities, that’s what it came down to,” Campbell said.
While 12 players, including Benson, Bravo, Gotti, and Slade, are graduating, the outlook is bright for OPRF with Ferren and Nelson among 18 returnees for 2025. Moreover, both the freshman and junior-varsity teams won West Suburban Silver titles.
“We’re looking pretty good on paper for next year,” Campbell said. “We’re really excited for what we’ve got coming back. And the freshman class could be the best to come through OPRF in the last 10-15 years.”
On May 21, Fenwick (23-9), seeded fourth in the Reavis Sectional, lost to #13 Whitney Young 9-3. Shaky defense contributed heavily to the outcome as the Friars committed five errors on the day, resulting in five unearned Dolphins’ runs.
With the score tied 2-2, Young took control in the top of the fifth with a three-run rally that knocked out starting pitcher Joey Krzak (4.2 IP, 5 runs (one unearned), four hits, three walks, four strikeouts).
Ryan Lazewski (3-for-3) got a run back for the Friars in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI double. But Fenwick collapsed in the seventh, committing three errors and issuing three walks that fueled Young’s four-run rally, which sealed the game.
Next season, the Friars will need to reload with the loss of 17 players due to graduation.