Guryn, Llorens extend southpaw connection beyond high school

Their paths continue to run parallel to each other.

Justin Guryn and David Llorens first found common ground as fifth graders when they were placed on the same youth baseball team. Both were lefties. Both were pitchers.

As their skills developed, Guryn and Llorens kept running neck and neck. They remained on the same travel teams, and shared similar roles.

Last year as juniors in high school, they were the top two pitchers at Grayslake Central, and were instrumental in getting the Rams downstate for a fourth-place finish. A year later, they remain so similar that, heading into their senior seasons this spring, neither believe that one is the ace over the other.

“Us two combined…that's the No. 1,” Guryn said. “As one, we are unstoppable.”

This connection between the 6-foot-3 Guryn and the 6-foot-5 Llorens, who might be the toughest (and tallest) pitching punch in Lake County this season, won't stop any time soon, either.

They'll be on the same pitching staff beyond this season.

“We always used to joke that we should go to the same college, too,” Llorens said. “But we never thought it would happen. We started off looking at different colleges.

“Then out of nowhere, we were talking to the same college.”

Guryn and Llorens have both signed with Heartland Community College in downstate Normal. And surprise, surprise, they are planning to be roommates as freshmen.

“It's going to be fun,” Llorens said. “Having Justin there is going to make things easier. College is overwhelming, and to have that person to talk to when something happens will be really nice.”

“I'm glad I'm not going to a place where no one will know who I am,” Guryn said. “I think it will help me pitching-wise.”

Guryn went 10-4 with a 2.30 ERA last season for the Rams. He struck out 75 batters in 70 innings and picked up Grayslake Central's win in the supersectional.

Llorens, who was slow to gain traction last season due to an early injury, finished with a 6-2 record with a 2.10 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 45 innings.

Both Guryn and Llorens kept the momentum from the spring season rolling into the summer, and were hitting the upper 80s on their pitches in various showcases.

“One day, I get a text on my phone, and it's from the Heartland coach. He sent a picture of their logo and their field and wanted to know if I wanted to come for a visit,” Llorens said. “He got my information from one of those showcases. I was going to Illinois State a few days later for a visit and Heartland is like 3 miles down the road, so I said I could go over for a visit while I was down there.

“I fell in love with it the second I got there.”

Llorens was impressed with Heartland's facilities and coaches and its short but sweet history. Over the six years that the program has existed, Heartland has had three 50-win seasons and six 40-win seasons. The program has also gone to the junior college world series on multiple occasions.

“I told the coach that I was really interested and that if he liked me, he should check out my teammate from Grayslake Central who was also a lefty and threw even harder than me,” Llorens said.

Llorens, of course, was talking about Guryn. He told Guryn all about Heartland. And when the Heartland coach contacted Guryn, he didn't hesitate to schedule a visit.

“I trust David as much as anyone,” Guryn said. “When I went for my visit, I was really impressed, too. The field is one of the coolest I've ever seen. It's like a major league field.

“I think it will be a really good start for my career.”

Both Llorens and Guryn have rationalized that they have a better chance to play right away at Heartland than many four-year colleges. They feel they'll be able to quickly build a resume that will attract the top Division I programs and perhaps even major league teams.

“We'll be setting ourselves up,” Guryn said.

“I want to take this as far as it take me,” Llorens said.

For now, Guryn and Llorens are hoping to get as far as Joliet again, a return trip to the state finals.

“We feel like we have a really good chance to make it downstate,” Guryn said. “We have a really good pitching staff and I feel like David and I will win every game we pitch.”

“We want to win every game,” Llorens said. “We push each other to do that. We push each other to get better. We've put a lot of work in so that we can perform our best. We want to see each other succeed.”

They'll get their wish for at least three more seasons.

pbabcock@dailyherald.com

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