Of the 25 players on the Lyons Township varsity baseball team, 17 are juniors this season. This talented group finished second in the West Suburban Silver Conference on the sophomore level last year.
With two legitimate shots at winning conference this spring and next, the Lions provided a glimpse of their major upside with a 9-7 win over highly regarded Brother Rice on Saturday.
“It was a good statement game for us,” LT coach George Ushela said. “I think it showed our players can play with anybody. We’re quite talented, and we have a group of hard workers.”
Brother Rice, which finished 31-3 last season, held a 5-2 lead midway through the fifth inning when LT started its rally. LT junior first baseman Brian Rodemoyer blasted a two-run homer to straightaway center pulling the Lions within 5-4.
In the sixth, Rodemoyer struck again with a key two-RBI double that tied the game at 7-7. Tom Walsh added an infield RBI single and Connor Cuff reached safely on a throwing error as LT scored five runs in the frame off LSU-bound Kevin Koziol. LT starter Cuff threw well and Zach Remijas earned the victory in relief.
“Beating Brother Rice is an incredible win for us,” Rodemoyer said. “I think it’s a great way to start our season and gives us some momentum for the rest of the way.”
Off to a 1-2 start this spring, LT beat Plainfield East 8-0 in the season opener and lost 5-2 to Montini.
Rodemoyer, who has already two home runs and eight RBI, went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and sacrifice fly against Plainfield East. Cuff (1-0) allowed one hit and fanned five in three innings of work that game.
The Lions aim to improve on last year’s performance which included an 18-15 record and one postseason victory.
Seniors Spencer Mahoney, Mike Phillipp and Mark Koziel are experienced returnees. Mahoney, who hit .370 last season, is an excellent defensive shortstop. Phillipp is a versatile, strong-armed catcher who can run and hit, while Koziel plays multiple positions.
Other starters – all juniors – include outfielders Mike Paloucek and Mike Pett and third baseman Tom Walsh. Steve Heilenbach starts at second and will play shortstop when Mahoney pitches.
The Lions’ pitching rotation consists of Cuff, Mahoney, Remijas, Koziel and Heilenbach. Junior Jeff Osborn, who recently injured a finger, also figures into LT’s mix on the mound.
“We have some decent pitching,” Ushela said. “Cuff is probably our top pitcher. Remijas is steady and Koziel is a left-hander who gets guys out and his ball really moves.”
In the West Suburban Silver, Oak Park is the preseason favorite. While the Huskies are off to an impressive 4-0 start, LT, York, Glenbard West and Hinsdale Central should all figure into a competitive conference race.
“We have a great group of guys who want to win,” Mahoney said. “We’re a scrappy team. As long as we make our plays defensively, we have a chance to be in every game.”