The Oak Park and River Forest High School baseball team opened the season downstate last week against top-quality competition and came home with a 3-2 record.
Following a 5-1 defeat to Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin at Millikin University in Decatur, March 19, the Huskies bounced back at the Prep Baseball Report East Metro Classic in Edwardsville, winning three of their four games. They defeated East Moline United 8-1 and Edwardsville 4-1, March 20. Then on March 21, following a 9-8 loss to O’Fallon, OPRF capped the trip with a 7-5 victory over McCraken County, Kentucky.
“Overall, I think the trip was extremely successful,” said OPRF coach Kevin Campbell. “We could’ve been 4-1, maybe 5-0 if it weren’t for three or four plays that we made mental errors on. That would’ve been great, but 3-2, there are a ton of positives that came out of the trip.
“My outlook on the team hasn’t changed. Pound for pound, there’s no team we can’t compete with.”
OPRF, which went 27-11 with an IHSA Class 4A regional title last spring and is ranked 23rd in this year’s PBR preseason poll, returns 11 players. Senior shortstop Johnny Nelson, a Wright State University commit, is a three-year varsity starter who Campbell feels is one of the state’s top defenders at his position.
The Huskies bring back five senior pitchers who will play college baseball: Griffin Arnold (Augustana College), Cam Barnes (Eastern Illinois University), Owyn Edwards (Kenyon College), Darren Law (Lewis University), and Dino Pantazopoulos (Claremont-Mudd-Scripps College). Moreover, senior Tucker Henry was the team’s relief ace last year.
“We’re not sure if he’ll be a starter or the go-to guy out of the pen again this year, but we know Tucker is going to play a big role,” Campbell said.
OPRF’s newcomers to watch are junior outfielder Brandon Beasley, who has committed to Illinois State University, junior third baseman/pitcher Sam Kalina, junior outfielder Robert Kolovitz, junior outfielder Connor Krumrei, and junior pitcher/first baseman Grayson Waters.
“It’s a very talented junior class,” Campbell said.
OPRF long has played tough schedules, but this season’s might be one of the toughest yet. This week alone, the Huskies host Lockport, which was ranked 13th in the PBR preseason poll, March 25, at 5 p.m., then visit perennial power Joliet Catholic, March 28, at 1 p.m. The annual East Avenue Showdown with Fenwick takes place at Triton College, May 1.
As if the challenges in non-conference play were not enough, OPRF will be in a dogfight with Downers Grove North, Hinsdale Central, Lyons, and York for the West Suburban Silver title. But Campbell adds this year’s tougher than usual schedule is by design.
“This is what our seniors asked for. They wanted to play the toughest schedule they possibly could,” he said. “The excitement’s there, the guys know what everyone’s expecting. It’s a great group and they’re working hard and getting after it.”
Fenwick
The Friars split their season-opening games last week, winning at Marist 4-1, March 19, and losing to Maine South at Triton College 5-1, March 21.
Fenwick, which went 19-16-1 and lost a 4A regional final to Brother Rice, returns 13 players. Junior outfielder Josh Morgan, a University of Cincinnati commit and a defensive back on the Friars’ Class 5A state championship football team, hit .388 last season and stole 15 bases. Junior shortstop J.J. Obaldo hit .357.
Other top returnees include senior infielder Johnny Buchman (St. Xavier commit), senior pitchers Liam Cahill, Harrison Dragus, and Bobby Milder (DePauw University), junior catcher Ethan Gonzalez, and junior first baseman Jeremy Munoz. A newcomer to watch is junior pitcher Jack Fagan.
“Our team this season is built around depth, discipline, and a competitive edge that shows up in the way our players go about their work each day,” said Fenwick coach Kyle Kmiecik. “We have a solid group of veteran leaders who understand the expectations of the program and set the tone with their preparation and effort.
“At the same time, we have a group of younger players who are eager for opportunities and ready to contribute. What stands out most about this team, though, is the bond between the players. They enjoy competing together and genuinely support one another.”
Fenwick is also drawing upon the recent football championship experience of Cahill and Morgan for inspiration.
“They’re a huge asset for us. Those guys understand the level of discipline and focus required to win at the highest level, and that championship mindset is definitely contagious,” Kmiecik said. “We’re absolutely using that success as motivation. The guys are hungry to build on that momentum and create a legacy of their own on the baseball field.”