Both the OPRF and Fenwick High School varsity baseball teams spent spring break in Tennessee and Florida, respectively, facing stiff competition from teams across the country. While the Huskies and the Friars did not win all their games, they hope playing challenging schedules will help them as the season goes forward.
Here’s a look at how each school did:
OPRF
The Huskies played their first five games of the season in Tennessee last week and went 3-2. In the opener of the Warrior Spring Classic on March 24, they defeated Thompson (Alabama) 3-2. Timmy Leark singled in the eventual game-winning run, and Peter Farren posted the save.
On March 25, OPRF split a pair, shutting out Rogers (Alabama) 12-0 but falling to Blackman (Tennessee) 7-3. On the final day of the Classic, March 26, the Huskies gave up two runs in the bottom of the seventh to lose the opener 2-1 to Southside (Alabama) but rebounded in the nightcap with an 8-2 victory over Gallatin (Tennessee).
“Realistically, we should’ve been 4-1. [Against Southside] we had a no-hitter going into the last inning. Things just didn’t go our way,” said OPRF coach Kevin Campbell, who thought the trip was an overall success given the circumstances.
“We learned a lot about ourselves,” he said. “We faced some of the best competition in the tournament. It’s always tough going up against teams that are 20-plus games into their season and you’re taking the field for the first time. It was a great environment, and we’re happy with where we’re at.”
Leark, Brady Green, and John Summers each hit .500 on the trip. George Holland (.375) belted two home runs and drove in a team-high five runs, and Ethan Moore (.385) legged out two triples.
“We’ve got five guys hitting over .350, which is huge,” Campbell said. “We’re playing team ball, getting sacrifice bunts down and putting the ball in play.”
On the mound, Tucker Henry (3.50 earned run average), Joseph Kahn, and Daniel Kane each notched wins, with Kahn and Kane not allowing any earned runs, and Darren Law got the save against Gallatin.
“Our pitching is super-young,” Campbell said, “but the juniors really stepped up on this trip. We’re excited.”
Fenwick
The Friars played three games in Orlando, Florida last week, winning the first contest before dropping the last two.
“Our annual spring break trip serves multiple purposes for both our team and coaching staff,” Fenwick coach Kyle Kmiecik said. “Most importantly, it provides an opportunity for our players to bond and grow closer as a team. This trip also allows us as coaches to learn more about our players, both on and off the field. We intentionally schedule strong competition to ensure our team is prepared for [Chicago Catholic League] games.”
On March 24, Fenwick (1-4) rolled to 12-2, five-inning victory over Packer Collegiate Institute of Brooklyn (New York). Twelve players collected hits for the Friars, and Johnny Buchman and JJ Obaldo each drove in a pair of runs. On the mound, Matt Purta pitched four innings to get the win, allowing two runs on two hits with seven strikeouts.
Against Fayetteville (Arkansas) on March 25, Andrew Henderson went 3-for-3, and Ethan Gonzalez and Ryan Lazewski each had two hits as Fenwick had 10 for the day. But the Friars managed just one run in a 9-1 loss.
In the trip finale, March 26, against Winter Park (Florida), Fenwick trailed 7-0 in the top of the seventh inning. The Friars staged a late rally as Bryan Tunison Jr. had a two-run single and Aidan McConnell and Josh Morgan each had RBI singles. But Fenwick could not complete the comeback and lost 7-4, ending the game on a strikeout with the bases loaded.
“We need to be more consistent in every aspect of the game,” Kmiecik said. “Our starting pitching has been solid, but we must refine our approach at the plate and maintain strong defense behind our pitchers. While our goal is to win every game, we recognize that success is a process and our record alone doesn’t define our talent, effort, or team chemistry.”
Fenwick visits Clemente on April 5, then welcomes St. Rita to the Priory, April 7.