Oak Lawn Hopes to Build off Summer Sizzle

Coach: Brian Clifton

Last year’s record: 19-15-1 overall, 10-9 in the South Suburban Red and 0-1 in the postseason.  Oak Lawn lost to Lincoln-Way East in the regional semifinals.  Summer League: 8-8 and 1-1 in the postseason.  The Spartans lost to Brother Rice in the second round.

Opener: March 17 vs. Morton.

Quick hit: “Like most teams, our success will depend highly on the quality of our pitching and the consistency in our defense to make the routine plays,” Oak Lawn coach Brian Clifton said.  “Our offense, potentially, should be much improved from last year’s team.”

Alex Krupa, senior, third baseman, .301 batting average, seven doubles, three triples and one home run.

Tony Swistek, senior, first baseman, .302, two doubles and one home run.

Matt Volanti, senior, .365, nine doubles, two home runs and 19 RBIs.

Cody Quillin, junior, second baseman. As a sophomore, he batted .467 with 11 doubles and 38 runs.

Bob Kametas, sophomore, right-hander.  As a freshman on the sophomore team, he had an ERA of 2.71 and seven wins. He also had 52 strikeouts in 51.67 innings.

Nick Mozwecz, junior, right-hander. He had five wins on the sophomore level and 54 strikeouts.

Mike Sequeira, junior, left-hander.  He is the Spartans' only southpaw. Sequeira had five wins on the sophomore level and four saves.

Kyle Smith, junior, shortstop. Transfer from Brother Rice.

Steve Childers, junior. Transfer from Argo.

Oak Lawn returns two starters but is coming off an exciting summer.  The Spartans pushed perennial power Brother Rice to the limit before letting a five-run seventh-inning lead slip away.

“If we can regain the momentum we had at the end of the summer season, we should be able to compete in the South Suburban Red Conference,” Clifton said.

Though Oak Lawn lacks varsity experience, the Spartans figure to have a powerful lineup, featuring Krupa, Swistek and Volanti. The three should have plenty of RBI opportunities with the ability of Quillin and Cody Marek to reach base.

“I feel we have a group of guys who have committed themselves to achieving success at this level and the competition to earn opportunities can only make us better,” Clifton said.