Diamond Gems: Downers Baseball, Softball Teams Take the Field

Weather-wise, it has been feeling more like late February than early April the past few days. Yet the latest cold snap hasn’t prevented the boys and girls of the diamond at Downers North and Downers South high schools from starting their respective 2011 campaigns.

Last year, the Trojans and Mustangs’ softball and baseball teams combined for 108 victories. South’s baseball and softball squads each reached the 30-win plateau in 2010, while the Trojans’ softball team set a new single-season school record with 28 victories. The Mustangs’ baseball team also posted a new single-season mark with their 31 wins. North’s baseball team just missed a 20-win season (19) last spring.

And with a number of productive, seasoned lettermen returning, look for more of the same in the “W” column from each team this season. Here’s an overview of the Trojans and Mustangs' teams, and how they’ll fare between the white lines this spring:

Downers North

Baseball

The Trojans (19-16 overall, 10-8 in the West Suburban Silver in 2010) will miss Eric Jagielo—a starting center fielder as a freshman at Notre Dame— and standout pitcher Joe Claver. However, North returns two Division I signees to the mound: Bryan Jagielo, who is heading to Oakland University, and Anthony Ciango, a Northern Illinois recruit. Both are seniors.

Adding to North’s depth on the mound is another senior, David Wilk, who pitched in the Trojans’ 2-1 extra-inning victory (10 innings) over Wheaton Warrenville South to open the season last Monday. Wilk, also an outfielder, had two hits in the game. In addition, sophomore Troy Southard could see some innings for the Trojans.

Ciango and Wilke will play first base and outfield, respectively, when they're not pitching. Senior Cory Treichel, the incumbent third baseman, is one of the Trojans’ leading returning hitters, and classmate Tom Wengren was a fixture in the outfield last year.

Pat Lowry, a junior, returns as the catcher after gaining valuable varsity experience his sophomore year. Matt Underdown, a junior outfielder, and Troy Suthard, a sophomore infielder, provide the Trojans with an infusion of speed.

Softball

Coming off their record-setting 28-9 season last year to go along with a first-place conference finish (11-1), the Trojans possess a strong one-two pitching punch this season of senior captain Kendall Ryndak (14 victories, four-year starter) and her sister, Dale, a freshman.

Senior outfielder Rachel Bradley and sophomore second baseman Carolyn Nojiri return at the top of the Trojans’ lineup, while Kendall Ryndak and steady senior shortstop Katie Hunzinger—North’s star guard during the basketball season—were .400 hitters a year ago. Bradley, Hunzinger and Ryndak were all-West Suburban Silver picks a year ago.

Seniors Sarah Anderson (outfield) and Jenna Butler (first base) also are back. Additionally, North welcomes Rowan McGuire, another freshman who has a promising future.

The Trojans have plenty of firepower, but they’ll undoubtedly miss sophomore pitcher Elaine Heflin, who injured her back and may miss the entire season. Heflin won 11 games and posted over 200 strikeouts. North also will be working in a freshman behind the plate.

Downers South

Baseball

Senior right-hander Nick Burdi was nearly unhittable last year with a spotless 10-0 record and an ERA under 1.00. It’s safe to say he's the area’s premier pitcher this time around.

Armed with a fastball in the 90s, the University of Louisville signee was named to Baseball America’s preseason all-American second team. The Mustangs (31-6, 17-1 in the West Suburban Gold in 2010) have been competing in the Horizon Tournament out in Arizona over spring break—a tourney that features national competition. Burdi has been the winner in two contests, while No. 2 starter Matt Wivinis noticed a victory against Bishop Gorman, a nationally ranked team.     

Wivinis, a senior, is heading to Kansas State. He won five games in 2010 and had an ERA around 1.40. Junior pitcher/first baseman Nick Vanek will likely be the Mustangs’ No. 3 pitcher, replacing John Dillon.

Dillon tore his ACL during basketball season, while Clayton Johnson, an outfielder, suffered a similar injury (both won’t play this season).

Offensively, the Mustangs should be fine, led by Wivinis, Miami of Ohio signee Jacob Wolf (outfielder) and second baseman Kyle Engel. Each hit .400 or better in 2010. Senior catcher Nick Tenerelli, a three-year varsity starter, gives the Mustangs added punch.

Softball

Led by 2010 Illinois Coaches Association Coach of the Year, Ron Havelka, the 2011 Mustangs are loaded once again. Havelka, who won his 500^th career game last spring (he was 525-131 going into this season), returns seven starters that led South to the 2010 Class 4A supersectional.

Chief among them: Senior center fielder Marissa Mersch, who’s on the verge of setting a new school record for career hits, and junior Katy LaCivita, arguably the top catcher in the West Suburban Conference. Mersch, the team’s leadoff hitter with a .532 average in 2010, has 181 career hits and needed just six more to establish the new DGS hit record. She’s already signed to play at the University of Wisconsin. LaCivita, who’s verbally committed to Loyola, smacked eight homers and hit nearly .400 last season.

Meanwhile, another junior, Emma Topps, has verbally committed to Quincy College. She moves in from the outfield to take over second base this season. Danielle Trezzo, also a junior, has established herself at shortstop.

What remains to be seen is how the Mustangs’ pitching staff will stack up after the graduation of Katie Talbot, their ace who went 24-3. One of three juniors—Aleisha Bozek, Jenny Nichols or Marissa Vasquez, a transfer from Fenton—will vie for the No. 1 job.