Latest news with #Lincoln-WayWest
Chicago Tribune
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Lincoln-Way West's Conor Essenburg reacts to being taken by Atlanta Braves in MLB draft. ‘Hit me like a train.'
Conor Essenburg convinced himself that he could remain a cool customer throughout the MLB draft. But when Essenburg, an outfielder/pitcher who graduated this spring from Lincoln-Way West, heard his name called Monday, the moment was overwhelming. 'I wasn't expecting it at all, so it hit me like a train,' Essenburg said. 'I wasn't expecting to cry whatsoever, but once I heard my name on the TV and saw my picture up there, I came to a moment of realization like, 'Oh my gosh, I actually got drafted. This is insane.' 'I have to admit there were some tears. This has been my dream since I was a little kid. It finally came true. I'm just super pumped.' Essenburg, the 2025 Daily Southtown Baseball Player of the Year, was taken by the Atlanta Braves in the fifth round with the 157th overall pick. Although he had committed to Kentucky, Essenburg plans to sign with the Braves and forgo college. 'I'm extremely excited to be a part of the Braves organization,' Essenburg said. 'I've only heard great things about them. Even the players they have on the team now, I'm super pumped about them and hopefully I get the chance to meet them. That would be awesome. 'All my glory to God. He's given me so many talents here and the ability to do everything that I've done.' Essenburg expected a bit longer of a wait. He said he did not learn of Atlanta's plans to draft him until moments before the pick was made. 'I was talking to my agent,' Essenburg said. 'We had an expectation for one round later for a different team and then I found out the Braves were taking me literally 10 seconds before the pick went in. Honestly, it was crazy.' Lincoln-Way West coach Jake Zajc was thrilled for his standout pupil. 'It's awesome,' Zajc said. 'It's a great day. To have a player be able to go through this and then to actually have it happen, it's great. This is a goal he set out five or six years and it all came to fruition (Monday).' Zajc said he knew even before Essenburg started his career with the Warriors that he could be a future pro. 'He had special qualities and special skills and some strength even when he was younger, plus his hand speed and his competitiveness,' Zajc said. 'Sometimes, you have kids who get those skills and they don't work hard to build on them. 'Conor's a kid who had those initial skills and then worked really hard to improve on all of those skills.' Essenburg thrived as a two-way star at Lincoln-Way West over the last three seasons and put together his best performance this spring. As a senior, Essenburg batted .464 with 42 runs, 11 doubles, 19 stolen bases, 10 homers and 49 RBIs. On the mound, he finished 5-0 with a 0.94 ERA and a whopping 94 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings. analyst Jim Callis, during a stream of the draft, said some teams liked Essenburg as a pitcher while others viewed him as an outfielder. The Braves announced him as the latter. 'As a hitter, he's got a chance to a chance to have 20-homer power,' Callis said. This spring, Essenburg said he would prefer to be a position player in the pros, calling pitching his 'backup plan.' 'I'm in love with hitting,' Essenburg said at that time. After being drafted, he will get a chance to put that passion on display as a pro. 'If you think about it, there's nothing better in this world than getting paid to play baseball every single day of your life,' Essenburg said. 'Obviously, I've loved this game since I was a little kid and this has always been my dream. 'Now, I'm getting paid to play it. That's just awesome, and I'm just extremely pumped up and ready to get going.'
Chicago Tribune
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
‘Super cool': Lincoln-Way West's Conor Essenburg is the 2025 Daily Southtown Baseball Player of the Year
Lincoln-Way West's Conor Essenburg took a Monday night flight to Phoenix, where he participated in the MLB draft combine from Tuesday to Wednesday. But before he headed to the airport, however, Essenburg spent the day helping at the Warriors' youth camp. Not to mention signing plenty of autographs and posing for even more photographs. Essenburg, a senior outfielder/pitcher, has embraced his local celebrity status. 'It was awesome,' Essenburg said. 'I had tons of little kids coming up to me. Just being able to do that kind of stuff is super cool to give back to the community. I used to be that kid that used to follow players around and try to get their pictures and autographs. 'It makes my day every single time.' There's a good reason why Essenburg's attention is highly sought by youngsters. The Kentucky recruit just completed a prolific career as a two-way star for the Lincoln-Way West. Essenburg capped it with his best season yet. The 2025 Daily Southtown Baseball Player of the Year batted .464 with 42 runs, 19 stolen bases 11 doubles, 10 homers and 49 RBIs. On the mound, he finished 5-0 with a 0.94 ERA and a whopping 94 strikeouts in 44 2/3innings. Essenburg also was named the SouthWest Suburban Conference's player of the year and earned all-state honors. But his recognition didn't stop there. The American Baseball Coaches Association and Rawlings named him an All-American. He's one of four players from Illinois and the only one from the Southland to gain that honor. None of that comes as a surprise to Essenburg's teammates like junior outfielder Carson Paulas. 'It's so much fun watching Conor play,' Paulas said. 'He's such a great hitter and pitcher and just does everything well. He works really hard.' As impressive as Essenburg's numbers were, Lincoln-Way West coach Jake Zajc has been equally proud of his growth off the field. Essenburg has developed a bit of a reputation for being short-tempered. In the past, he wasn't necessarily the best leader. But this season was different. 'Over his four years at Lincoln-Way West, he's obviously improved on the field, but he's made a lot of vast improvements off the field,' Zajc said. 'It's been a learning experience along the way. 'His improvement with all that stuff from junior to senior year was very impressive. He made a conscious effort to be a good teammate and he was a great leader for us.' Back to the autographs. Essenburg said a few years back he would follow around Max Clark, then a highly touted high school player in Indiana who was selected third by the Detroit Tigers in the 2023 MLB draft. 'I never got an autograph or a picture, but I got to see him play,' Essenburg said. 'I have his autograph now, though. I have family who lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he plays (for the High-A West Michigan Whitecaps) and I went to a game. 'He signed two of my cards and took a picture with me.' Essenburg, who plans to focus on hitting and playing in the outfield at the next level, could be following Clark's path soon. He was one of five high school players from Illinois invited to the draft combine and one of two locals along with senior pitcher Jack Bauer from Lincoln-Way East. 'It was my goal to be able to finish off my high school career by going to the combine,' Essenburg said. 'When I got the invite, it was amazing. I called my dad (Troy) and he was like in tears over how proud he was of me. I thought that was the coolest thing ever.' One thing that may top that would be hearing his name called in next month's draft. Then Essenburg will likely have a big decision to make between going to Kentucky or signing with a pro team. 'I think I'm prepared for it,' Essenburg said. 'I think I'm starting to understand that no matter where I end up, I'm going to be in a really good spot. 'It's kind of just a win-win situation.'
Chicago Tribune
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Luke Kavois helps Stagg submarine Lincoln-Way West for first regional title since 2019. ‘I'm not a flamethrower.'
Basically out of necessity, junior right-hander Luke Kavois tried a different approach for Stagg. The results for the unorthodox pitcher have proven to be unlikely and fortuitous — and stunning. 'I'm not a flamethrower,' said Kavois, who made his first career high school start on the mound Saturday at any level. 'I throw from a funny style that really started almost as a joke. 'The game plan was to throw strikes, get pop-ups and groundouts and trust my teammates.' That trust paid off. Kavois flummoxed second-seeded Lincoln-Way West on a two-hitter as the host Chargers pulled off another upset with a 4-1 win in the Class 4A Stagg Regional final. Junior outfielder William Houston had two hits, scored a run and came up with a big RBI single for the 12th-seeded Chargers (10-27), who advanced to play at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday against Providence (25-12) in a Lincoln-Way West Sectional semifinal in New Lenox. Senior shortstop Andrew Speh added a two-run single and struck out two in 1 1/3 innings of relief as Stagg won its first regional title since 2019. Kavois also scattered two walks in 5 2/3 innings. Senior outfielder Conor Essenburg hit a home run in the seventh for Lincoln-Way West (29-8), which averted a shutout after beating the Chargers by a combined 29-2 in two conference games. While the Warriors committed three errors and managed only five hits overall, Kavois' performance was a revelation. He didn't get a strikeout but provided compelling inspiration for his teammates. 'To see what he did after what he has come back is just awesome,' Houston said. 'I've known him since we were 5. He's always been awesome. He's so competitive and always wants to win.' The amazing story of Kavois' recovery from a frightening injury echoed Stagg's astonishing upset. 'We were playing in Myrtle Beach over spring break and I was in left field,' Kavois said. 'Instead of a warning track, they had a hill. I tried to make a great catch, tripped on the hill, landed on my wrist and smashed my head against the wood wall.' The diagnosis? Kavois suffered a broken right wrist and a concussion. Despite having to wear a cast for six weeks, he still pitched every day to maintain his arm strength. He was rewarded Saturday for his diligence and toughness. 'I love our pitching staff, but the only way we beat West was the guy who started today,' Stagg coach Matt O'Neill said. 'We beat St. Rita in 2008 throwing a knuckleballer. 'Today was similar to that. The only way to win was to have an unorthodox thrower.' Kavois' fastball has never been timed at more than 75-77 mph. At the age of 14, almost as a lark, he began experimenting with the submarine style, the equivalent to skipping stones. Instead of an overhanded or three-quarter motion, Kavois starts his delivery beneath his waist. His body is almost parallel to the ground upon his release. 'I'd be in the bullpen, catching other pitchers, and I just started playing around with it,' he said. 'What I saw was, whenever I did it, people really liked watching me because it's so different.' The horizontal and vertical drops of the ball threw off the timing and rhythm of the Warriors. With his background as a catcher, Kavois also has a unique perspective to the science of pitching. 'Whenever I catch, I always notice what guys are doing up at the plate and if they're getting out in front of the ball,' Kavois said. 'I always know what to look for.' The injury, the comeback and the throwing style continued the Chargers' Cinderella run. 'Right now, it just feels like everybody's hot,' Kavois said. 'It's the last year for our coach. We're manufacturing runs. Everybody's bought in, and right now, it's this great family atmosphere.'
Chicago Tribune
31-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Abby Brueggmann embraces role as ace pitcher to help Lincoln-Way West shut down Andrew. ‘I get pumped.'
Lincoln-Way West pitcher Abby Brueggmann spent a lot of time jumping, pointing and shouting during the biggest game of her varsity career. In all instances, the junior right-hander had the biggest smile. It was all about the girls behind her, who played errorless ball Friday from start to finish. 'The energy was crazy,' Brueggmann said. 'I was just celebrating my teammates. Some of those balls could have been hits and they made every play. 'When they take away a hit from someone, I get pumped for them.' All of them were pretty pumped for her after the Warriors defeated the host Thunderbolts 2-0 in the Class 4A Andrew Regional championship game in Tinley Park. Brueggmann reached base twice, scored a run and tossed a three-hit shutout to pace Lincoln-Way West (23-11). Kaylea Armstrong added two hits, while Paige Seivert also reached twice and made the defensive play of the game. Ana Cisek came through with two hits for Andrew (21-13). The Warriors scored both of their runs in the second inning. Madi Lukasik was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, while North Carolina State recruit Reese Rourke drove in the other run with a fielder's choice grounder. Brueggmann, meanwhile, was brilliant in the circle. She struck out three without a walk. None of the runners she allowed got past second base. No one appreciated her performance more than Rourke, who's an ace pitcher herself but will be playing in college as a shortstop. 'Abby has been throwing great this whole season,' Rourke said. 'The best part (Friday) was the energy she brought the whole team. Every first-pitch strike, we all looked at each other and got hyped for her. 'She just really brings the infield together and sets the tone for the game.' Perhaps Brueggmann's biggest shoutout went to Seivert after her highlight-reel play in center field in the top of the second. Seivert played a long drive by Clare Hester perfectly off the fence and threw her out at second base. It helped the Warriors advance to a 4:45 p.m. Tuesday semifinal in the Lockport Sectional against Lincoln-Way Central (33-1), a 10-0 winner in five innings over Homewood-Flossmoor. 'I don't even know what happened,' Seivert said. 'I just remember at practice we work so hard on the fence balls, getting the ball in. We just work so hard and I want to see it come out on the field.' Seivert's heroics resulted in quite a swing in emotions by Brueggmann. 'Yeah, I was kind of mad that I gave up the hit,' Brueggmann said, laughing. 'Then I saw Paige make that throw and I got so excited.' Brueggmann (12-6) has been a revelation during the second half of the season. She has 116 strikeouts and just 26 walks in 113 innings. Her breakout game came April 25 in a 1-0 loss to Marist. She didn't allow a hit through the first six innings. 'It definitely was a confidence boost,' Brueggmann said. 'I was expecting to pitch that day, but I wasn't the main starter on our team. I was a little nervous because Marist is a great team. 'I wasn't expecting perfection, I just went out there and did my best.' Lincoln-Way West coach Heather Novak has used Brueggmann as the main pitcher ever since. 'In that game, that outing, she showed her ability to attack hitters, to get those swings and misses, to get those outs,' Novak said. 'From there, she has really continued to grow as a pitcher.' She's ready for the moment. 'This is definitely the year,' Brueggmann said. 'I struggled last season and the year before and didn't have much confidence. I've been working on my mental game to stay calm, stay cool. 'I can get past tense moments now. It really helps to know that coach has confidence in me.'
Chicago Tribune
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Andrew Speh makes call, hits homer in 11th inning as Stagg stuns Marist. Destination? ‘Taking it over the wall.'
Senior shortstop Andrew Speh predicted the exact sequence of events for Stagg. Before adding to his personal highlight reel, Speh relayed his thoughts to junior reliever John Skordas — saying exactly how his 11th inning at-bat was going to turn out for the Chargers. 'He threw me a first pitch curveball my previous time up,' Speh said of Marist's pitcher while describing the lead-up to his dramatic ending. 'I've gotten that from lefties the whole year. 'I told John, 'If he throws me a curveball, I'm swinging at the first pitch and taking it over the wall.'' Move over, Nostradamus. Speh followed up his words with action, hitting a two-run homer to lift the host Chargers to a 9-7 upset Thursday in a Class 4A Stagg Regional semifinal in Palos Hills. Senior catcher Brody Jeffers totaled three hits, three runs and two RBIs for the 12th-seeded Chargers (9-27), who play at 10 a.m. Saturday against second-seeded Lincoln-Way West (28-7) for the regional title. Sophomore infielder Dominic Talaga also drove in two runs. Junior starting pitcher Ryan Lawlor knocked in three runs and sophomore outfielder Tommy Hosty hit a two-run homer for seventh-seeded Marist (20-14-1). Batting leadoff, Speh took full advantage of his extended opportunities. He finished 3-for-6 with three runs and three RBIs. On the winning homer, Speh launched that first pitch to center. And he was pumped up afterward. 'How you picture Andrew is how he is,' said Skordas, who pitched the final six innings and struck out nine, offsetting eight hits. 'He got the adrenaline super high for everyone with that home run. 'He's the best teammate imaginable. He's there for you when you make your worst plays and he's there when you make your best plays.' Skordas then struck out the side in the 11th, including the final two batters as Marist stranded runners at first and second. It came after the RedHawks rallied from three different deficits. Jeffers acknowledged the two-run cushion allowed the Chargers to breathe and relax even as Marist, which came back by scoring a tying run in the seventh, was threatening again. 'Seeing the ball fly over the fence in a moment like that was amazing,' Jeffers said of Speh's homer in the top half of the inning. 'He's been one of my best friends for four years now. 'He just has this ability to pick everybody up, even if he's not having his best game.'' It was Speh's fourth homer of the season. 'I never had more than one home run in a season until this year,' he said. 'I've definitely gotten stronger throughout the year. I haven't won a playoff game in all three years I've been on the varsity. This is the coolest moment I've had. 'I couldn't have asked to do it with a better team.' Speh also shared the moment with his younger brother, Evan, a sophomore center fielder. Andrew, a year-round athlete, is a standout hockey player for the Orland Park Vikings. He's set to attend Minnesota, with the goal of playing junior hockey at the club level for two years as the necessary progression to make the Golden Gophers' team. A defenseman in hockey, Speh is the Chargers' defensive anchor at shortstop. 'We had a neighbor who played hockey, so I grew up playing that,' Speh said. 'My parents always said I was better at baseball growing up. 'I could never let go of hockey. It's fast, physical and just so mentally tough.' The mental demands of both sports have paid huge dividends, especially dealing with adversity. Facing the prospect of playing his final baseball game, Speh wasn't going to give an inch. 'Nobody thought we were going to win this game,' Speh said. 'They didn't even throw their best guy against us. You can't beat this, extra innings, at home, and we were the lower seed. 'We just knew we were going to win this game.'
