Ostrowski's No-Hitter Leads North Past Central In Lincoln-Way Battle
May 19, 2015
By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director
FRANKFORT, IL – Lincoln-Way North, coming off a 28-3 season in 2014, and a Preseason No. 2 overall ranking came into this spring with high expectations. Despite struggling at times facing one of the state’s most difficult non-conference schedules, the Phoenix and senior ace lefthander Kyle Ostrowski are hitting their stride when it matters most late in the season. Ostrowski was dominant on Tuesday afternoon in a 15 strikeout, no-hit performance against in-district and conference rival Lincoln-Way Central, as the Phoenix topped the Knights 2-1.
Central actually struck first against Ostrowski, scoring an unearned run in the first inning. After a passed ball resulted in a dropped third strike to the game’s leadoff hitter Sean Studer, Ostrowski walked Chad Tucker with one out. With runners on first and second, sophomore catcher Cam Post (ranked No. 57 in IL’s 2017 class) reached on a fielder’s choice, advancing Studer to third base. A wild pitch scored Studer, but Ostrowski escaped any further damage with a strikeout on the inner half, freezing the next hitter with an 88 mph fastball.
Ostrowski struck out the side in the second, then recorded two strikeouts in each subsequent inning, dominating the Knight’s hitters with an improved three-pitch mix. The Purdue signee’s curveball and changeup have made significant improvement as the season has progressed, and he effectively mixed all three pitches while maintaining his 85-88 mph fastball velocity throughout the game, culminating with a swinging strikeout on an 88 mph fastball to finish the contest.
“This was a big week with East and Central,” Ostrowski said. “Any time we play a Lincoln-Way school it’s a big conference and rivalry game, it’s for bragging rights. The changeup is something I’ve been working on, and I’m getting a better feel for it. It’s been awhile since I’ve had my curveball, and today I was able to use it in big counts.”
North struck for its two runs in the fifth against Central starter, junior righthander Trevor Newton. With one out leadoff hitter Austin Konagel (2-for-3) tripled to deep right field. Junior designated hitter Bobby Sikyta added his second hit of the day on an RBI line drive single to left. After Newton struck out the next hitter, an infield error on Josh Mutter’s ground ball to second base allowed Sikyta to score the game’s eventual winning run.
Newton impressed throughout his six innings of work. The 6-foot-4, 170-pound righty only allowed five hits, striking out five, while walking only one. The tough luck loser sat in the 80-83 mph range, touching 84 mph, keeping the Phoenix off balance with an effective three-pitch mix, matching Ostrowski pitch-for-pitch throughout the outing.
Lincoln-Way North coach Mitch Nowicki added, “It’s always a fun rivalry with any of our in district games, you can throw the records out the window. Kyle was really good, throwing the curveball for strikes, and being in command on the mound throughout the game. He’s continued to improve throughout the year, and it’s a testament to his work ethic. “
Konagel and Sikyta both had two hits for the Phoenix, while junior left fielder Ryan Anderson added the only other hit.
Lincoln-Way North improves to 21-10 on the year with the victory, finishing Southwest Suburban-Red conference play at 10-3. The Phoenix need Lincoln-Way West to lose on Thursday to share the SSC-Red title as the Warriors currently sit at 10-2 in conference play. Lincoln-Way Central drops to 13-16 on the year, 6-7 in SSC-Red play.
By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director
FRANKFORT, IL – Lincoln-Way North, coming off a 28-3 season in 2014, and a Preseason No. 2 overall ranking came into this spring with high expectations. Despite struggling at times facing one of the state’s most difficult non-conference schedules, the Phoenix and senior ace lefthander Kyle Ostrowski are hitting their stride when it matters most late in the season. Ostrowski was dominant on Tuesday afternoon in a 15 strikeout, no-hit performance against in-district and conference rival Lincoln-Way Central, as the Phoenix topped the Knights 2-1.
Central actually struck first against Ostrowski, scoring an unearned run in the first inning. After a passed ball resulted in a dropped third strike to the game’s leadoff hitter Sean Studer, Ostrowski walked Chad Tucker with one out. With runners on first and second, sophomore catcher Cam Post (ranked No. 57 in IL’s 2017 class) reached on a fielder’s choice, advancing Studer to third base. A wild pitch scored Studer, but Ostrowski escaped any further damage with a strikeout on the inner half, freezing the next hitter with an 88 mph fastball.
Ostrowski struck out the side in the second, then recorded two strikeouts in each subsequent inning, dominating the Knight’s hitters with an improved three-pitch mix. The Purdue signee’s curveball and changeup have made significant improvement as the season has progressed, and he effectively mixed all three pitches while maintaining his 85-88 mph fastball velocity throughout the game, culminating with a swinging strikeout on an 88 mph fastball to finish the contest.
“This was a big week with East and Central,” Ostrowski said. “Any time we play a Lincoln-Way school it’s a big conference and rivalry game, it’s for bragging rights. The changeup is something I’ve been working on, and I’m getting a better feel for it. It’s been awhile since I’ve had my curveball, and today I was able to use it in big counts.”
North struck for its two runs in the fifth against Central starter, junior righthander Trevor Newton. With one out leadoff hitter Austin Konagel (2-for-3) tripled to deep right field. Junior designated hitter Bobby Sikyta added his second hit of the day on an RBI line drive single to left. After Newton struck out the next hitter, an infield error on Josh Mutter’s ground ball to second base allowed Sikyta to score the game’s eventual winning run.
Newton impressed throughout his six innings of work. The 6-foot-4, 170-pound righty only allowed five hits, striking out five, while walking only one. The tough luck loser sat in the 80-83 mph range, touching 84 mph, keeping the Phoenix off balance with an effective three-pitch mix, matching Ostrowski pitch-for-pitch throughout the outing.
Lincoln-Way North coach Mitch Nowicki added, “It’s always a fun rivalry with any of our in district games, you can throw the records out the window. Kyle was really good, throwing the curveball for strikes, and being in command on the mound throughout the game. He’s continued to improve throughout the year, and it’s a testament to his work ethic. “
Konagel and Sikyta both had two hits for the Phoenix, while junior left fielder Ryan Anderson added the only other hit.
Lincoln-Way North improves to 21-10 on the year with the victory, finishing Southwest Suburban-Red conference play at 10-3. The Phoenix need Lincoln-Way West to lose on Thursday to share the SSC-Red title as the Warriors currently sit at 10-2 in conference play. Lincoln-Way Central drops to 13-16 on the year, 6-7 in SSC-Red play.
By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director
FRANKFORT, IL – Lincoln-Way North, coming off a 28-3 season in 2014, and a Preseason No. 2 overall ranking came into this spring with high expectations. Despite struggling at times facing one of the state’s most difficult non-conference schedules, the Phoenix and senior ace lefthander Kyle Ostrowski are hitting their stride when it matters most late in the season. Ostrowski was dominant on Tuesday afternoon in a 15 strikeout, no-hit performance against in-district and conference rival Lincoln-Way Central, as the Phoenix topped the Knights 2-1.
Central actually struck first against Ostrowski, scoring an unearned run in the first inning. After a passed ball resulted in a dropped third strike to the game’s leadoff hitter Sean Studer, Ostrowski walked Chad Tucker with one out. With runners on first and second, sophomore catcher Cam Post (ranked No. 57 in IL’s 2017 class) reached on a fielder’s choice, advancing Studer to third base. A wild pitch scored Studer, but Ostrowski escaped any further damage with a strikeout on the inner half, freezing the next hitter with an 88 mph fastball.
Ostrowski struck out the side in the second, then recorded two strikeouts in each subsequent inning, dominating the Knight’s hitters with an improved three-pitch mix. The Purdue signee’s curveball and changeup have made significant improvement as the season has progressed, and he effectively mixed all three pitches while maintaining his 85-88 mph fastball velocity throughout the game, culminating with a swinging strikeout on an 88 mph fastball to finish the contest.
“This was a big week with East and Central,” Ostrowski said. “Any time we play a Lincoln-Way school it’s a big conference and rivalry game, it’s for bragging rights. The changeup is something I’ve been working on, and I’m getting a better feel for it. It’s been awhile since I’ve had my curveball, and today I was able to use it in big counts.”
North struck for its two runs in the fifth against Central starter, junior righthander Trevor Newton. With one out leadoff hitter Austin Konagel (2-for-3) tripled to deep right field. Junior designated hitter Bobby Sikyta added his second hit of the day on an RBI line drive single to left. After Newton struck out the next hitter, an infield error on Josh Mutter’s ground ball to second base allowed Sikyta to score the game’s eventual winning run.
Newton impressed throughout his six innings of work. The 6-foot-4, 170-pound righty only allowed five hits, striking out five, while walking only one. The tough luck loser sat in the 80-83 mph range, touching 84 mph, keeping the Phoenix off balance with an effective three-pitch mix, matching Ostrowski pitch-for-pitch throughout the outing.
Lincoln-Way North coach Mitch Nowicki added, “It’s always a fun rivalry with any of our in district games, you can throw the records out the window. Kyle was really good, throwing the curveball for strikes, and being in command on the mound throughout the game. He’s continued to improve throughout the year, and it’s a testament to his work ethic. “
Konagel and Sikyta both had two hits for the Phoenix, while junior left fielder Ryan Anderson added the only other hit.
Lincoln-Way North improves to 21-10 on the year with the victory, finishing Southwest Suburban-Red conference play at 10-3. The Phoenix need Lincoln-Way West to lose on Thursday to share the SSC-Red title as the Warriors currently sit at 10-2 in conference play. Lincoln-Way Central drops to 13-16 on the year, 6-7 in SSC-Red play.
