Stout family knows all about the St. Francis-Benet rivalry

Unwritten rules exist in the Stout household.

1. No Benet or St. Francis hats, shirts, jackets or other spirit wear will be left out in the open.

2. Respect your rival as if he’s your brother because, well, he is your brother.

Eric and Chris Stout weren’t always rivals, though. In fact, for most of their lives they’ve either played on the same team — coached by their father, Mike — or at the very least trained together.

That changed about three years ago when Chris started a Stout civil war — with emphasis on the civil — by choosing to attend Benet. The decision came a year after his older brother, Eric, fulfilled a long-held desire to attend St. Francis.

For those unfamiliar with the parameters of a rivalry, St. Francis vs. Benet definitely qualifies.

“It’s a huge rivalry in every sport,” Eric said. “When I was a sophomore and Chris was a freshman, the trash talk was pretty bad. But now everyone’s used to the situation.”

Now Eric’s a senior committed to play baseball at Butler next year. He’s a top pitcher, hitter and team captain for St. Francis who boasts a 4-1 record on the mound.

Chris is already making an impact at Benet as a junior. He’s batting .324 while spending time at first, second and third base. He’s also shown the flexibility to bat throughout the lineup.

For all the positions Chris plays, though, Eric always will consider his brother a catcher: his catcher.

Growing up that’s the way it was. Eric would be on the mound with Chris behind the plate. They played together on Mike Stout’s Wheaton-Briarcliffe Blazers youth teams, and again on teams with the DuPage Training Academy.

“Growing up it was always baseball with us,” Chris said. “We were pretty good teammates for the most part.”

And then they weren’t teammates at all.

Eric aimed to attend St. Francis from the get-go, but the next year Chris chose his own path, picking Benet over St. Francis and Glenbard West.

“Me and my friends definitely tried to get him there and influence him to go to Francis,” Eric said. “I was kind of devastated that we weren’t going to be teammates anymore, but I understood. He just liked Benet more.”

As tempting as it was for Chris to follow his brother, he simply felt more comfortable at Benet. A basketball and baseball player like Eric, Chris couldn’t be happier with his decision.

“When I shadowed at Benet it just felt like a better fit,” Chris said. “Both schools are great, but there was more of a comfort level at Benet.”

There’s a certain amount of comfort lacking, though, when either brother has friends over at the house. Both sides handle it respectfully, and jokingly, but they all firmly believe in their own school’s supremacy.

The parents also suffer from a lack of comfort trying to see the boys play. Games often are scheduled at the same time, which means Mike and Liz usually split sites and rely on texting each other.

Like dealing with the rivalry, it’s a situation that’s become the norm.

“That’s the only tough part, when they play on the same day,” Mike Stout said. “The important thing is they’re both in the right spot and they’re both making the most of it.”

That’s also the toughest part for Chris and Eric. For two guys who used to play ball together all the time, they never even get to see each other compete anymore. The have to lean on postgame conversations at home.

Even with the rivalry, they can’t help but root for each other.

“I hope he does well,” Chris said. “I’d love to see him pitch sometime.”

Fortunately — or unfortunately — the two won’t face off against each other. Benet and St. Francis don’t play in the regular season, and they’re in different playoff classes.

The Stout matchup will remain in the mind.

“He’d probably say he’d strike me out, but I say I’d take him deep,” Chris said.

Shockingly, Eric’s opinion differs.

“He said that?” Eric asked. “I’ve never faced him, but I think I’d strike him out. We’ll take it to the field someday.”

On the bright side, at least mom and dad would get to see them both play at the same time.

And, trash talking aside, it’s good to know the family rivalry remains friendly.

“Sports have always kept us pretty close,” Chris said. “Even though we’re on different teams, I think that’s still true.”

kschmit@dailyherald.com