Senior Cooper Marrs and his Riverside Brookfield High School baseball teammates already had major hopes for this season.
Then about one month ago, the Bulldogs were told they will be playing Libertyville May 3 at American Family Field, home of Major League Baseball’s Milwaukee Brewers.
“That got us real excited to play some baseball,” Marrs said.
“That was a very good surprise, very fun to find out about. It’s kind of like been every young baseball player’s dream to play in a professional stadium one day. I’ve played at some nice college parks, but nothing like this.”
Excitement abounds for the Bulldogs, who return 2023 All-Metro Suburban Conference players Marrs and senior Wes Deason, seven starters and most of their pitching from last year’s 21-11 team that finished third in the MSC at 7-3 and had a 12-game winning streak. The Bulldogs lost 4-2 to St. Rita in the Class 4A St. Rita Regional final.
“We’ve had a couple of scrimmages already,” said RBHS coach Mark Ori. “Even though I see pitching as a strength, I was impressed by our hitters. Usually, the timing’s off and that comes in a couple of weeks. I’m proud of the work they put in the offseason. There’s going to be a lot of competition within the team.”
With the MSC down to four teams this season, Ori has added several tougher opponents as further preparation for another brutal sectional that may also include two-time reigning 3A state champion Nazareth Academy.
The Milwaukee trip came about with Ori’s friendship with Libertyville coach and former Northwestern player Matt Thompson. To assist with game expenses, the Bulldogs are selling Brewers tickets for home games against the White Sox May 31 and Cubs June 28. Contact Ori orim@rbhs208.org for more information.
“It’s a cool opportunity for the kids,” Ori said.
Marrs, who will play at Dennison University in Granville, Ohio, was the team’s top offensive player in 2023, batting .471 with three home runs, 39 runs batted in, 30 runs scored and 12 stolen bases. He also was a strong starting pitcher, going 4-4 with a 2.54 earned-run average and 46 strikeouts in 49.2 innings. His pitching has been sidetracked slightly by an offseason wrist injury.
Deason, the powerful first baseman/designated hitter, hit .357 with a team-best four homers and 28 RBIs.
Four other seniors – shortstop Joey Garvey (.238, 6 RBIs in 2023), starting pitchers Wyatt Murphy (5-3, 3.33 ERA, 36 strikeouts in 42 innings) and Kevin Cronin (3-0, 2.84 ERA, 20 strikeouts in 32 innings) and pitcher Robert Drake (3-1, 4.50 ERA, 27 strikeouts in 28 innings) – and junior left fielder Jaden Despe (.206, 18 RBIs, 5 stolen bases) also are returning starters. Garvey will get a later start after being injured at the end of the basketball season.
More returning senior varsity letterwinners are catcher Anthony Petrucci, center fielder/pitcher Tohma Tucker, pitchers John Gruber, Carter Duda and Julian Fernandez, first baseman/pitcher Ben Wilkowski and infielders/pitchers Ben Pondel and Sam Didio.
Newcomers are juniors Sean Campbell, Zach Ryzewski, Aiden Pankros, Ethan Smith, Michael Oppegard, Brady McCallum, Peter Gardiner, Gino Pigoni, Ethan Rivas, Cal Milchhoefer and Luke Schwarte, and possibly sophomores Ronnie Murray and Aidan Polich.
Last season’s sophomore team was 20-6 and 8-1 in the MSC.
“We feel we have a good mix of experience and a number of juniors that can be impactful. We have a lot of depth in this area,” Ori responded.
“(Our keys are) play each game as if it is a playoff game, bring the same mindset, keep it simple. Throw strikes, challenge hitters, make all the routine plays and execute small ball when called upon.”