Warren's Ryan Kennedy commits to Valpo

Two down.

One to go?

Sorry, Kennedy pitching brothers, we're not talking outs. That's all right, though.

Like his big brother Sean two years ago, Warren senior Ryan Kennedy has accepted a baseball scholarship to pitch at the Division I level. Kennedy has made a verbal commitment to play for former major leaguer Tracy Woodson at Valparaiso University.

Ryan Kennedy, a 6-foot, 150-pound right-hander who's the middle son of Jim and Karen Kennedy, took an official visit to the Indiana school last month. He met with Woodson and was sold.

"I was going to have a couple of more visits, but I just fell in love with the school," Kennedy said.

"All the buildings are small and the school is not too far from home (about a two-hour drive from Gurnee). And that's good because I'm a family guy."

Sean, a lefty who's two years older, is pitching at Jacksonville University. There's another Kennedy who pitches too. Warren sophomore Kyle also throws right-handed. Kelly, 10, is the three boys' lone sister.

Maybe Kyle will follow in his brothers' strides and receive a baseball scholarship offer.

"I think he has a chance," Ryan said. "He'll be working really hard, just like me and Sean did. Hopefully, he'll end up with something like me and Sean did."

Ryan Kennedy will be playing for a collegiate coach who apparently is staying put. In July, Woodson signed a four-year contract extension that will run through 2014. He completed his fourth season as head coach in the spring. He has led Valparaiso to a pair of third-place finishes in the Horizon League, and in 2009, the Crusaders (28-24) enjoyed their first winning season in 10 years.

A former third baseman, Woodson played five seasons in the majors, winning a World Series ring with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988.

"It's really cool," Kennedy said. "He definitely knows what he's talking about. Obviously he's had good coaching if he played for a World Series team."

As a high school freshman, Kennedy was a late-season call-up to the varsity and then pitched regularly for the varsity as a sophomore. This past spring, he posted 7 wins with an ERA below 3.00 and earned honorable mention all-conference honors.

He thinks Woodson liked his makeup and mound presence.

"He just said he liked the way I threw and how I handled myself on the mound," said Kennedy, who also plays shortstop. "He said everything was smooth and easy, and that I had good mechanics. He thinks I'll be a good fit there."

Kennedy's pitching repertoire includes a changeup and curveball. He's not necessarily a power pitcher.

"I usually mix in good off-speed," Kennedy said. "That's what I get people out on."