By Drake Skleba
Senior Writer

CHICAGO – Finally, within the warm confines of the newly renovated pressbox at Brother Rice, the 2013 PBR Illinois High School baseball season began for us. The host Crusaders gave their frozen fans a treat, crushing a quality Glenbrook North squad 11-3. Junior 6-foot-2 RHP Brian Musielak (1-0) fired six quality innings, allowing just three runs and four hits. Musielak helped himself at the plate with two hits and an RBI.

“We really played a complete game,” said Musielak. “We all hit the ball well. We made all the plays in the field which adds up to winning baseball. I thought I pitched well tonight and just had that one bad inning.”

Crusader junior SS Kevin Sullivan led the 14-hit Crusader attack with four hits. Sullivan scored two runs and added a stolen base. Junior 1B Pat Kirwan had three hits, including a double and drove home three runs.

“It was awesome to finally get out here and play,” said Sullivan. “We really worked hard in practice this week with hopes of playing this well. I was feeling real good today at the plate.

The main thing is we got the win.”

Brother Rice took a 5-0 lead into the top of the fourth. Musielak retired the first 10 Spartans he faced. Glenbrook North (0-1) rallied for three runs after the first out, to trim the Rice lead to 5-3. Spartan senior RF Paul Brandeisky (2-for-3, 2B, RBI) doubled home the first Spartan run and then senior LF Grant Rushing followed with a two-run double.

In the bottom of the fourth with two-out and two on, Kirwan ripped a clutch two–run single

to give the Crusaders a 7-3 lead.

“I was just trying to get a pitch to drive with men in scoring position in the fourth,” said Kirwan. I’m happy I was able to come through for us. Brian pitched a great game for us and we really took care of business at the plate.”

In the top of the seventh, Crusader junior RHP Mike Gianakos, after walking the leadoff man of the inning, struck out the next three batters to finish the game with a flourish.

Crusader senior LF Redic Richardson chipped in with two hits, two stolen bases and scored a run.

For Brother Rice (1-0), things do not get any easier, with PBR preseason No. 1 Lyons Township coming to Sedlacek Field tomorrow afternoon. On Monday, No. 3-ranked Joliet Catholic Academy will invade Mount Greenwood.

Just a couple of examples why the Crusaders were named by the PBR as having the toughest schedule in Illinois.

“I’m really proud of them and Brian shut down a really good team today,” said Brother Rice head coach John McCarthy. “Kevin Sullivan and Pat Kirwan killed the ball for us today.

We came out and played well.

“Tomorrow we are looking forward to the opportunity to host No. 1 Lyons Township. We’ll give it our best.”

“All the credit goes to Brother Rice today,’’ said Glenbrook North head coach Dominic Savino. They out hit us, out defended us and out pitched us. We will rebound from this loss and be a much better team because of it.”