Brauer filling hole in Montini rotation
Andrew Brauer didn't quite have the weight of the world on his shoulders heading into this season, but pressure definitely fell on the Montini senior baseball player.
An all-Suburban Catholic Conference and All-Area performer as a junior, Brauer thrived under the radar while helping a strong senior class to a 14-0 SCC record and a conference championship.
But with key graduation losses -- especially four-year starters Pete Cappetta and Joe Crotty -- Brauer had to step up even more than he did last year.
"We lost a ton of experience on the mound," said Broncos coach Bill Leeberg. "We really needed him to fill a big role for us."
Brauer pitched only 15 innings last year, and that mound time had to increase dramatically this season after Cappetta and Crotty graduated 107 innings and 15 wins.
The team's new ace opened the season with a tough 3-1 loss to Lyons Twp. but then posted wins over Thornridge, Marmion and St. Edward before falling to Driscoll 3-2 on Saturday.
Brauer's success on the mound hasn't slowed him at the plate. After batting .420 with 6 homers and 29 RBI last season, he entered the week with a .391 batting average, 4 home runs and 26 RBI.
In a 15-8 victory over Lisle last week Brauer went 4-for-4 with 2 home runs and 5 RBI.
"He's on a tear pitching and hitting," Leeberg said. "He's been extremely valuable for us."
Mr. 400: Carl Hunckler had little time to celebrate Saturday's milestone victory.
He needed to get ready for Game 2 of Naperville North's DuPage Valley Conference doubleheader against Glenbard North.
"I forgot all about my 400th win, but (assistant coach Mark Lindo) came up to me in between games and said 'Congratulations,' " he said. "I really wanted to go out and get 401."
In his 20th year as a head coach, including the last 19 at Naperville North, Hunckler's teams continue to show the successful consistency of 20-win seasons. Through Tuesday the Huskies stood at 13-8 overall and 6-6 in the DVC.
The defending DVC champions -- the seventh time Hunckler's Naperville North teams won a conference title -- are trying to battle through the ups and downs of the long campaign.
Saturday was a perfect example. After junior ace Jake Naumann pitched the Huskies to a 5-4 win in Game 1, the Huskies fell 17-4 in five innings in the second game.
After starting the DVC season 4-0, the Huskies entered the week having lost five of seven conference games. Four of those losses were by at least 10 runs.
Hunckler is hopeful his team can bounce back for this week's DVC series against Wheaton Warrenville South and future series against Glenbard East and Naperville Central.
"We've been struggling a little bit, but there's time to turn it around," he said.
It takes two: While the regular season is a marathon for which several pitchers are needed, the playoffs require a more focused staff of two good starters.
Teams are continuing to develop their arms with the aim of a postseason run. Whoever boasts the best one-two pitching punch could very well win it all in any of the four playoff classes.
Some teams are having more success than others.
Benet, for example, has one of the state's premier aces in hard-throwing Illinois-bound righty Bryan Roberts. The Redwings also have enjoyed success with junior John Boyle, who improved to 5-0 with Saturday's East Suburban Catholic Conference win over Marist.
"He's really done a nice job for us," said Benet coach Jeff Bonebrake.
Downers Grove South, which this week became the first area team to reach 20 wins, has a talented pitching tandem of Joe Luft and Pat Lahey that's combined for a 9-1 record. Driscoll's Anthony Campanella and Corey Eisenmann had a 10-2 combined record through Tuesday.
Defending Class AA state champion Neuqua Valley has an abundance of pitching depth with Ian Krol, who already has pitched a no-hitter and a perfect game, Geoff Rowan, Mike McKinley and others. Wheaton North's trio of Jack DeAno, Trey Martin and Aric Dama had 12 of the Falcons' 14 wins heading into Wednesday's action.
Pained Palackdharry: Wheaton North's Matt Palackdharry dislocated his shoulder during Saturday's doubleheader against Naperville Central, temporarily interrupting a fine season for the senior outfielder.
The No. 2 hitter in the Falcons' potent lineup, Palackdharry is batting .422 with 8 doubles, 23 runs scored and 17 RBI.
Falcons coach Dan Schoessling said Palackdharry may return in a couple of weeks but might be restricted to just hitting as a designated hitter.
The timing for his return, though, is up in the air.
"You never know with that kind of injury, he might be able to throw," Schoessling said. "If nothing else, he'll be able to hit for us."