By Sean Duncan
Executive Director

FRANKFORT, IL – A handful of pro scouts came out to see Lincoln-Way North’s two-headed monster, LHP Kyle Ostrowski and RHP Liam Jenkins, who were both slated to throw in the Phoenix’s season-opener.

As it turned out, Brother Rice senior RHP Mike Schalasky stole the limelight while throwing six scoreless innings as No. 18 Brother Rice upended No. 2 Lincoln-Way North, 6-0, on a frigid Saturday afternoon.

Schalasky, who’s committed to Indianapolis, yielded three hits, struck out six and walked none in six efficient innings.  Working predominately off his 86-89 mph fastball, touching 90 twice, Schalasky did not allow a Phoenix runner to reach third base until the sixth inning. For good measure, the 6-foot, 180-pounder delivered a run-scoring single in the seventh and also walked.

Meanwhile, Brother Rice (2-1) jumped on Jenkins early, scoring two runs apiece in the second and third innings. The Crusaders capitalized on four walks and a few wild pitches to mount a 4-0 lead after three. In the second inning, Brother Rice scored on a wild pitch and a balk; in the third, the Crusaders scored two more runs on wild pitches.  Jenkins, a 6-foot-8 Arizona State recruit, pitched 2.1 innings, yielding four runs, two hits with three strikeouts and four walks. In the first inning, Jenkins sat predominately91-92, touching 93 once.

Senior OF Danny Paluch walked three times for the Crusaders, scored three runs and swiped three bases to spark the offense. Sophomore Ryan Kutt led off the second inning with a single on a 91-mph fastball and later scored on a wild pitch. He also drove in a run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly. Junior SS Mike Massey took a 90-mph fastball the other way to lead off the third with a single and later came around to score.

Brother Rice has put its young club to the test early on this season. On Friday, the Crusaders lost to No. 1 Joliet Catholic 10-3 before upending the No. 2-ranked team on Saturday. In two days, they faced five Division 1 pitchers – three of whom were 90-plus – including three D-1 arms against Lincoln-Way North. Northern Illinois-bound LHP Josh Mutter pitched well in relief of Jenkins before turning it over to Ostrowski to close out the final two innings. Ostrowski, who’s ranked No. 2 in Illinois’ 2015 class, allowed two hits, struck out four and walked two in his brief stint.

More in-depth notes will be posted in the Illinois Scout Blog later.

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