Prospect’s Landwehr picks ISU

Performing double duty was no trouble to the Illinois State baseball program as it recruited Prospect senior standout Jack Landwehr.

It was a big reason why Illinois State was Landwehr’s No. 1 choice as he made a verbal commitment to accept a scholarship on Friday. Last season’s Daily Herald All-Area honorary captain in Cook County isn’t big on idle time in a baseball uniform.

Landwehr, who pitches and plays third base for Prospect, was impressed with Illinois State coach Mark Kingston’s track record with two-way players.

“I couldn’t do it,” Landwehr said with a laugh of just sitting around and waiting for days between starts on the mound. “That was a big thing (playing both ways). I’ve been doing it my whole life and I’m used to it, although I know it will be a challenge.

“Coach Kingston has had a lot of experience with two-way guys where a lot of other coaches were really leery about it.”

This spring Landwehr set the Prospect single-season school record for victories as he went 14-2 with a 2.38 ERA, 114 strikeouts and just 11 walks in 85⅓ innings. He hit 88 mph in the seventh inning of a 2-1 victory over Mt. Carmel in the Class 4A third-place game in Joliet.

Landwehr hit .443 with 14 doubles, 3 homers and 45 RBI with just 8 strikeouts in 122 at-bats as the Knights’ cleanup man. He also provided excellent defense at third base in his second varsity season.

Landwehr said Kansas State, Bradley and Creighton were also in his top four schools. Landwehr went to a camp at Illinois State last year and took a campus tour two days ago.

“They were always No. 1,” Landwehr said. “It was the best fit for me. I really loved it there.”

Landwehr will join a program that has been making history in just two years under Kingston. In his first year, the Redbirds won their first Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title, their first MVC tournament title since 1994 and their first NCAA regional game since 1976.

Last season the Redbirds set a program record for victories as they finished 36-18.

“It’s a lot of weight off my shoulders,” said Landwehr, who also plays basketball for Prospect. “I didn’t expect it this early. I expected it in late September but Illinois State gave me an opportunity and I jumped on it.”