Crusaders Prepared for Challenges in 2017

Coming off a 35-4 season and a Chicago Catholic League title, Brother Rice High enters the spring with high expectations.

- Hudson Belinsky

They have a two-headed beast at the front of the rotation, with seniors Ryan Kutt and Jack Guzek both prominent Division I prospects who will be evaluated by professional teams this spring. The Crusaders are well-rounded defensively, with senior Andy Lopez behind the plate and senior shortstop Ryan King and junior second baseman Sam Jones forming a promising double-play duo. Brother Rice is poised to make a statement about the quality of Midwestern baseball this season.

But Brother Rice prefers to look at itself as an underdog. After their 2016 season ended with a sectional final loss, the Crusaders will face an extremely challenging schedule this spring. They’ll match up against Kentucky powerhouse St. Xavier, out of Louisville, en route to the National High School Invitational later in March. Furthermore, many Midwesterners see the Chicago Catholic League as one of the most underrated conferences in the nation.

“We’re going to be a true underdog at NHSI,” Brother Rice head coach John McCarthy said. “In the Midwest, teams play with a blue-collar attitude and don’t feel truly appreciated on the national level. We know how intense each practice has to be for us to compete against some of the best teams in the country.”

In addition to their difficult national schedule, Brother Rice will face stiff competition at home. The Chicago Catholic League has a reputation for producing top-scale sports figures, including longtime NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb, Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski and two-time Cy Young award winner Denny McLain.

CCL baseball packs some punch this year. St. Laurence (Burbank, Ill.) has a promising pitching prospect in Marius Balandis, and Mount Carmel has an explosive 2018 prospect in outfielder Alek Thomas.