Eastern Michigan-bound Aidan Nohava doubles to fuel Brother Rice's sectional rally. A green light? ‘I've got you.'

Chicago Tribune

2 days ago

Brother Rice's Aidan Nohava lit up when he saw the coach's sign giving him the green light.
The senior first baseman played out the range of scenarios in his head with a runner in scoring position, especially with Illinois State recruit Jackson Natanek following him in the batting order.
'I just wanted to put the ball in play and get the runner over or score him in the best case,' said Nohava, who's committed to Eastern Michigan. 'I knew Jackson was right behind me.
'We looked at each other and we each said that I've got you and you got me.'
It all added up to success Wednesday afternoon as Nohava nailed a game-tying double and then scored on Natanek's single as the Crusaders walked off a 2-1 win over Oak Park-River Forest in a Class 4A Reavis Sectional semifinal at Triton College in River Grove.
Sophomore pitcher Brady Cunningham led off the seventh inning with a double for top-seeded Brother Rice (34-3), which advanced to play at 11 a.m. Saturday for the sectional title against Catholic League rival Mount Carmel (25-13), a 6-1 semifinal winner over Nazareth.
The Crusaders' quest for a third state appearance in four years appeared in peril when they trailed 1-0 heading into their final at-bat, but coach Sean McBride wasn't playing the percentages.
He allowed Nohava to let loose.
'We're playing to win and Aidan's our cleanup hitter for a reason,' McBride said of giving him that go-ahead. 'I thought he had two really good swings earlier in the game and just missed.
'He's a senior. He's been through this. I knew he'd get a good barrel on the ball.'
True to form, Nohava drilled a second-pitch fastball down the left field line.
'They threw me fastballs all days and everything was inside,' he said. 'I knew they weren't going to switch from that. The previous pitch was also a fastball, so I knew exactly where it was.'
Natanek, who earned the win with three strikeouts in an inning of relief, typically starts next to Nohava at second base.
'We've been playing in the infield together since my sophomore year and I knew he would pick me up there,' Natanek said. 'He's the best teammate you could ask for.
'He'd pick me up at 3 o'clock in the morning if necessary. I'd trust my life with him.'
Two years ago as a sophomore, Nohava also was a starter as Brother Rice reached the state championship game.
No moment is ever too big.
'All of the seniors have played in a game like this,' he said. 'Sophomore year in the supersectional, we had a one-run game. I try to have as much fun as I can.
'Baseball is a tough game. I just want to win for my team and for the guys behind me.'
Nohava, who's hitting .316, has totaled 31 hits, five homers and 32 RBIs. An only child, he picked up the game when his parents started him in youth baseball.
'My parents put me around great people who helped me get good at the game,' he said. 'I realized then that the game was a lot of fun, I was good at it and just wanted to keep rolling.'
His favorite activity outside of baseball is fishing. It fits his quiet nature but also determination.
'Growing up, I never had battles with siblings, so I just had to learn how to be competitive and get good at stuff,' Nohava said. 'I started watching YouTube videos about fishing.
'I just felt like it was something I wanted to do. I was out yesterday and caught a couple of fish.'
Now, he has another memory that will last forever.
'This is one of the most important wins I've ever been a part of,' Nohava said. 'This could be my last pitch, my last game. I'm a captain, and (Wednesday) is going to sit heavy with me.'