baseball
Crusaders are ready to represent Illinois at USA Baseball Invitational
Johnny McCarthy understands the significance of Brother Rice being invited to the prestigious USA Baseball National High School Invitational.
All the Crusaders' coach had to do was peruse the list of the 16 teams participating in the tournament, which takes place from March 29 through April 1 in Cary, North Carolina.
Half are from renowned baseball hotbeds in California and Florida. Others are from Texas, Arizona, Alabama and Georgia, climates more conducive to developing premier talent.
Brother Rice is the lone team from Illinois. In fact, the Crusaders are the first team from the Midwest to ever earn an invitation to the six-year event.
And with that distinction comes a responsibility that stretches well beyond Brother Rice's campus at 99th Street and Pulaski Road.
“We are humbled to be selected,” McCarthy said. “It's a big responsibility to represent the state of Illinois. Our goal is to represent teams in the area — both past and present, the Chicago Catholic League, and show other teams and people that there is good baseball being played up here.”
With all due respect, not just good baseball — elite baseball.
That's the level associated with this invitational, which provides a national stage. The Major League Baseball Network will televise every game in the winners' bracket after the first round.
Opposing teams may look at Brother Rice's address and consider them sitting ducks.
That would be a mistake.
The Crusaders belong in this tournament. After interviews with USA Baseball members in May and June, Brother Rice was notified in November that it would be part of the 16-team invite. USA Baseball made the official announcement on Jan. 5.
Brother Rice (35-4) returns much of the nucleus from a team that produced a 30-game winning streak in 2016. McCarthy boasts three of the best players in the state in pitcher/infielder Ryan Kutt, shortstop Ryan King and pitcher/third baseman Jack Guzek.
Kutt is committed to Illinois, King to Michigan State, Guzek to Indiana State. Kutt and Guzek have fastballs that consistently exceed 90 mph and possess devastating breaking pitches.
That type of talent has a way of opening doors to national tournaments.
“Those three guys really helped us get into the invite,” McCarthy said.
Kutt, the defending Daily Southtown Baseball Player of the Year, is excited to compete against some of the best teams in the nation.
“I can't wait,” Kutt said. “I think it's really exciting to be the first team from the Midwest to be a part of this. This is our time to make our mark and show what Illinois baseball is all about.”
While the big three of Kutt, Guzek and King will receive much of the spotlight, Rice's roster is filled with high-caliber talent. Infielder Sam Jones, an Indiana recruit, and outfielder/pitcher Jake Ridgway, an Indiana State recruit, also are standouts. Pitcher Joey Payton is a future Division I recruit.
Kutt is confident his teammates are up for the challenge.
“We have a lot of young talent and our team leaders from last year are back,” Kutt said. “The biggest thing for us is to just play our game and not back down.”
McCarthy expects his team to play with a chip on its shoulder.
“Our team is sick of hearing how California, Florida and Texas has the best baseball,” McCarthy said. “People are expecting us to get beat up.”
I doubt that will happen. Not with Kutt, Guzek and Payton on the bump. I'm also confident Rice will compete and represent Illinois with the utmost class and sportsmanship. That would likely open the door to other local schools for a future invite.
“We're going to give it our all,” Kutt said. “And play the game the right way. We'll be ready.”
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