Top 10 Stories of 2015: No. 8 St. Rita Starts the Year 25-0
December 21, 2015
By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director
Over the next few weeks, in addition to highlighting the Top 10 Player Profiles of 2015, we will also highlight the Top 10 Stories in Illinois high school baseball during the 2015 calendar year.
Today, the No. 8 story on the list is: St. Rita Starts the Year 25-0.
St. Rita, a member of the Catholic League Blue Division, is no stranger to long winning streaks. In 2014, the Mustangs opened the season with a school-record 26 straight wins and went on to finish runner-up in Class 4A.
The 2015 season was not much different as they won 25 straight games to open the year and at one point were ranked No. 1 in the country by USA Today before finally falling to then No.7 ranked Providence Catholic. Providence Catholic, a fellow member of the Catholic League Blue, went on to win their second straight state title in June.
St. Rita was led by nine seniors who went on to play college baseball. Among the nine was senior infielder Marty Bechina, now at Michigan State. Bechina was selected as the Chicago Catholic League Lawless Award Winner (given to the CCL player of the year). He was also a PBR Second-Team All-State selection. Bechina hit .394 with 12 doubles, three triples, two home runs, 28 RBI, 35 runs scored. He also registered 20 walks, good for a .500 on base percentage, while posting a .636 SLG and a 1.136 OPS. He stole nine bases, and displayed his usual stellar defense at shortstop.
Another senior of note was INF/RHP Tyler Halas, who is now at Palm Beach State. Halas, a PBR Third-Team All-State selection, had been a mainstay in the middle of the order for the Mustangs since his sophomore season, while also putting up solid numbers in the rotation. In 2015 the offensive second baseman hit .396 with 22 extra base hits: 14 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 36 RBI, 36 runs. He posted a .726 slugging percentage, 1.219 OPS, .492 on base percentage (18 walks), and also stole 12 bases.
The Mustangs finished their season 31-7 overall and lost to eventual Class 4A state runner-up and CCL Blue champion Mount Carmel in the playoffs.
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