Latest news with #DoItStevie'sWayTournament
Chicago Tribune
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Alongside his dad, Mickey Lotus leads St. Laurence to Do It Stevie's Way Tournament title. ‘This means a lot.'
Mickey Lotus has watched several Do It Stevie's Way Tournaments from the stands. His dad, St. Laurence coach Pete Lotus, had been 0-3 in championship games before Saturday night. Mickey, a junior second baseman who's excelling in his first season as a varsity starter for the Vikings, was thrilled to help his dad finally get over that hump. 'It makes me so happy to see him win this,' Mickey said. 'I know he wanted this so bad. I'm happy we could get this done for him.' Mickey drove in two runs and scored another Saturday as the Vikings rolled to a 10-1 win over Lemont in the Do It Stevie's Way Tournament championship game at Ozinga Field in Crestwood. Adrian Perez went 2-for-3 with three RBIs for St. Laurence (29-5). Louisville recruit Cory Les added a double, three runs and an RBI, while Danny Donovan finished 2-for-4 with a run. Jimmy Benson, a Lemont resident, threw a complete game for the Vikings. He struck out five and allowed one earned run on six hits and two walks. 'It was against my hometown team and I know all the sophomores and juniors over there,' Benson said. 'So, I definitely wanted to go out there and do my best.' Oakton commit Zach Corse came up with an RBI single for Lemont (27-7-1). Zane Schneider singled and scored, while Missouri-St. Louis recruit Matt Devoy finished with a single and a walk. St. Laurence's first tournament title, meanwhile, was extra special for the Lotus family. Pete played baseball with Mark Bajenski, who runs the tournament in honor of his late son, Stevie, who was a senior baseball player at Mount Carmel in 2009 when he died at the age of 17 following complications from surgery to repair a heart defect. 'I've known 'Baj' for a long time,' Pete said. 'We played together in the summers. I'd hang around with Stevie, playing catch with him. They had a great father-son relationship and that was before I had kids, so I thought it was really cool. 'I've always appreciated this tournament and the message, and this means a lot.' Listening to Mark Bajenski speak about his son after the game, the significance of being on the field together as father and son wasn't lost on either Lotus. 'Seeing my dad kind of tearing up out there, it's definitely special,' Mickey said. 'It means a lot to him and it means a lot to me, as well.' Mickey and Pete said they were both a bit nervous about how this season together would go. But both are enjoying it. 'It's been good,' Mickey said. 'He tries to treat me just like any other player on this team and I think he does a good job of that. If he says something to me, I try to take it like it's just coming from a regular coach and not my dad.' Mickey was hit by a pitch and scored during a three-run first inning for St. Laurence. He later added a pair of RBI groundouts. Mickey is now hitting .505 with 46 runs and 21 RBIs, silencing anyone who doubted he belonged in the varsity lineup. 'I definitely hear people talk about how I only play because he's my dad, but I think it's quite the opposite,' Mickey said. 'I think he's hard on me and I have to earn it. 'I try to block that stuff out. It doesn't really matter to me. But for sure, I like to prove them wrong.' For Mickey, putting on the St. Laurence jersey every day is still a surreal feeling. 'It's an honor for me,' he said. 'Before every game, I'm so grateful to have this opportunity. I talk about it all the time. I watched this growing up and always dreamed about it and now this is the time. 'It's definitely awesome.'
Chicago Tribune
02-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Brady Cunningham, who lives in Mokena, rallies Brother Rice past Lincoln-Way Central. ‘Emotions were pretty high.'
Brother Rice's Brady Cunningham could not have picked a better time to hit the first home run of his high school career. The sophomore infielder/pitcher's towering shot to left-center Tuesday tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning and sparked a comeback win for the Crusaders. To make the moment even sweeter, it was against Lincoln-Way Central. Cunningham lives in Central's district in Mokena and has been lifelong friends with several players on the Knights. 'Emotions were pretty high,' Cunningham said. 'They were high from the get-go knowing we were playing against a lot of people I'm familiar with. 'I was just looking to put something hard in play and the ball just went. It felt pretty great.' Cunningham's heroics set up a walk-off RBI single by Anthony Cartolano as host Brother Rice rallied from a five-run deficit for an 8-7 win over the Knights in a Do It Stevie's Way Tournament pool-play game in Chicago. Eastern Michigan recruit Aidan Nohava went 3-for-4 with two runs, a double, a triple and an RBI for the Crusaders (4-1). Conner Stack finished 2-for-2 with an RBI, while JD Maloney threw a perfect top of the seventh to earn the win. Conor McCabe went 2-for-4 with two runs, a double and an RBI to lead Lincoln-Way Central (2-2). Toledo recruit Liam Arsich finished 2-for-4 with a run and a double, while Austin Welsh contributed a two-run single. Xavier recruit Luke Mensik struck out five over three shutout innings. The Knights led 7-2 before Brother Rice scored three times in each of the sixth and seventh innings. Cunningham's long two-run homer with one out in the seventh tied the game. Cartolano, for one, saw it coming. 'I called it,' Cartolano said. 'I said, 'Do you know how electric it would be if Brady puts one over the wall? Next pitch? Boom.' 'Brady is the definition of a team player, and when he's on his game, he's unstoppable.' Nohava followed with a triple. After two intentional walks, Cartolano came up with the bases loaded and one out. Cartolano, who also lives in Lincoln-Way Central's district in New Lenox, ripped a hard grounder that got through the draw-in infield for the game-winning hit. 'When you're a kid in third grade, playing wall ball with your buddies, you're like, 'Bottom of the ninth, World Series,'' Cartolano said. 'You dream of these types of moments. It's a fun place to be.' Cunningham, meanwhile, was extra fired-up for the game against his friends from home. 'Their starting pitcher (Mensik) and their first three hitters (Luke Tingley, Filippo Baratta and Arsich) are all guys I'm super close with,' Cunningham said. 'We live in the same neighborhood and I've always been around them. I was definitely excited for this game.' Cunningham showcased his skills as a freshman last season on the varsity, earning some big opportunities as a pitcher. He also got 55 at-bats but hit just .255. Now, he's batting third and blossoming into a two-way star. He threw a five-inning no-hitter in Friday's 11-0 win over Oswego East. 'My goal is to be a two-way player as long as possible,' Cunningham said. 'I feel like my approach at the plate is a lot better. I've been looking for pitches that I can handle. 'I worked really hard in the offseason to get stronger and improve my speed, too.' Brother Rice coach Sean McBride is confident Cunningham can do anything the team asks him to. 'He's a special talent,' McBride said. 'What people don't see is he practices 100 miles per hour. He's a really hard worker. He's super intelligent, a student of the game and he wants to be great. 'So, it's really not surprising. He's hitting third as a sophomore on a really good team for a reason. He deserves to be there.'
Chicago Tribune
25-03-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Illinois recruit Aidan Flinn strikes out 12 in five innings for Marist. And those MLB scouts? ‘It motivates you.'
After committing to Illinois and blossoming into a pro prospect, Marist's Aidan Flinn is adjusting to life in the spotlight. Several scouts lined up behind home plate Monday with their radar guns drawn to watch the senior left-hander pitch. That doesn't bother Flinn. 'It's still kind of new, but I'm starting to get used to it,' he said. 'I do enjoy it. I like kind of having something to pitch for. It motivates you. 'I see it as another chance to prove myself to more people and let them see what I have.' Flinn sure showed them a lot. He threw five no-hit innings, striking out 12, as the RedHawks rolled to a 10-0 six-inning win over Homewood-Flossmoor in a Do It Stevie's Way Tournament pool-play game at St. Xavier in Chicago. Brendan Doran went 3-for-4 with a triple and three runs to lead the offense for Marist (2-1). Ryan Lawlor finished with a double, two RBIs and three runs, while Charlie Dunneback contributed a double, a walk, an RBI and a run. Eastern Michigan recruit Demir Heidelberg had the lone hit for H-F (3-1). Navy commit Henry Humes struck out seven over four innings, allowing five earned runs. Flinn, meanwhile, issued just one walk and hit one batter. At one point, he struck eight straight. Senior catcher Joey Gumuls, a Loras recruit, loves being along for the ride when Flinn gets on that kind of a roll. 'He's very accurate,' Gumuls said. 'It's easy to catch him. Once we're in a groove, it's really fun to just go out there and compete.' Flinn showed up to the park on a cold day and saw strong winds howling out. Challenge accepted. 'I just wanted to keep the ball low and make them hit it on the ground,' he said. 'Luckily, they didn't hit the ball too much.' As far as the extra eyeballs on him are concerned, Flinn believes they help him lock in, which will make him even better later in the season. 'Sometimes it can be tough to go out there and throw in a game that's not as important, maybe early in the season,' he said. 'But when you have that attention on you every game, you know you're going to be ready to go when you get to the really important games and the pressure's on. 'So, that's nice.' Flinn got plenty of help from his offense. Doran sparked the lineup from the leadoff spot, singling and scoring on Lawlor's double in the first inning. Doran followed with an RBI triple in the second inning, then singled and scored in the fourth. 'I like being the leadoff hitter,' Doran said. 'I know I can get on base and go steal a base and I have guys behind me that I know can hit me in.' Doran said having Flinn on the mound takes all the pressure off the RedHawks' hitters. Speaking of pressure, Marist coach Kevin Sefcik sees Flinn thriving under the bright lights. 'I think he loves it,' Sefcik said. 'He has no problems with it. He's embracing it. He knows he can go to Illinois or he has a chance for some other options 'I just love that he's doing well out there in front of those guys and maybe gives himself a chance.' Flinn knows he may have some big decisions to make in the next few months. But he's intent on staying true to himself through all the hoopla and MLB draft talk. 'It's exciting,' he said. 'Nothing's going to change here. I'm just going to keep playing baseball and living my life, and whatever happens in the future happens. I'm thankful for everything.'
Chicago Tribune
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Coming off torn meniscus, Lemont's Cannon Madej uses loss in Class 3A state final as motivation. ‘It's still with me.'
Lemont's Cannon Madej endured a long, painful time between outings. After pitching in the Class 3A state championship game in June, Madej didn't have the luxury of playing summer league or travel. He underwent surgery and then rehab for a torn meniscus. Madej, who pitched and played on the injury all season, gave up the winning run in the sixth inning of a 3-2 loss to Crystal Lake Central. It was hard to forget, or even temper, the disappointment. 'It's still with me,' Madej said of that setback. 'I remember it every day.' Madej took his first step in trying to erase some of those memories Saturday afternoon. The junior pitcher/DH delivered a two-run double in a sixth-run fourth inning and pitched two scoreless innings of relief while striking out four, leading Lemont to a 10-4 victory over Sandburg in a Do It Stevie's Way Tournament first-round game in Orland Park. Donovan Moleski picked up the win for Lemont (1-0) and gave up two runs in three innings but also got out of based-loaded jams in the third and fourth. Shea Glotzbach added two hits and two RBIs and Zach Corse drove in two runs. Quinn Durkin contributed three hits for Sandburg (2-1), which beat Eisenhower and Downers Grove South by a combined score of 28-2 earlier in the week. The left-handed Madej, meanwhile, was pumped up after making his first appearance on a baseball field in nine months. Lemont played in the state championship game on June 8 in Joliet. 'It was a cool experience to be there,' said Madej, who also praised Crystal Lake Central. 'They had a couple of solid hits, but that was a really good team. 'It motivated me more to want to get out there and start working. I want to go forward from there.' In that game, Madej lined a single to right field in the third inning and scored on a passed ball to put his team ahead 1-0. He came on to pitch in the sixth with the score tied at 2-2. Lemont coach Brian Storako said Madej, who would strike out the side despite allowing two hits and the winning run to score, carried that performance with him throughout his recovery. 'I don't think as an athlete that you ever forget about those things,' Storako said. 'You tend to remember the bad moments and forget about the good moments. 'To say he didn't use that for fuel would be a mistake. He definitely had that on the back of his mind when he was training and getting ready for this season. We're expecting big things.' Moleski, a senior heading to Carleton, was happy to see Madej bounce back after all that time. 'He's a great dude,' Moleski said of the 6-foot-6 Madej. 'He works hard. He's come off some injuries and he's worked really hard to get his body back in shape. 'Obviously, he's ready. In his first game, he had a big hit and some big innings pitched. He's done everything in his power to make sure he was ready.' Hoping for another deep run in Class 3A, Lemont is heading this week to Florida. Starting Saturday, Lemont will play Northside Christian (9-7), followed by Dunedin (7-7), Cambridge Christian (9-7) and Berkeley Prep (13-4). Madej credited his father, Mark, and older brother, Nate, for getting him involved in baseball and helping through his recovery. Mark played for Lemont in the 1990s. Nate was an all-state player who pitched for Florida Southern. 'They taught me to keep my head up, keep working hard and results will happen,' Cannon said. And so far, it's all good for Madej. 'I'm feeling back to normal now,' he said. 'I'm feeling a lot better.'
