Brother Rice’s Gavin Triezenberg had to adapt when his preferred approach backfired on him.

The senior third baseman, who bats leadoff, was almost too excited in his first trip to the plate.

“I like the first pitch of the game,” Triezenberg said of his initial at-bat. “They’re usually trying to throw a strike. I was kind of scuffling there, and I popped it up. That was not very good.

“But the next time, he just hung a curveball and I got a good barrel on it.”

Triezenberg got on a roll after that barrel Tuesday, delivering a highlight with a two-run double as part of his three-hit performance for the Crusaders in a 4-0 victory over Lincoln-Way East.

Junior starter Danny Sheehan struck out four and threw a complete game, giving up just three hits for Brother Rice (16-1). Senior outfielder Jaden Henry had two hits for the Griffins (13-4),

Junior outfielder Nolan Ramoley hit a home run to left field in the first inning for Brother Rice. Triezenberg went 3-for-4 with two doubles to raise his season batting average to a team-best .500.

Ten of Triezenberg’s hits have gone for extra bases, including seven doubles and two homers.

“I’m a hybrid,” said Triezenberg, an Arizona recruit who leads the team with 29 hits and 22 RBIs and has scored 21 runs. “I can hit for power, but I also hit for contact and power.

“Hitting is something I just work really hard at. I have a lot of natural God-given ability, but I’ve also really put the time in working on it.”

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Triezenberg combines excellent size, anticipation and the ability to generate bat speed.

“He’s an aggressive hitter, so he’s not your prototypical leadoff,” Brother Rice coach Sean McBride said. “He’s been our best player for two years, and we give him that opportunity to set the tone.

“He has a good presence about him. He never gets too high or too low.”

His batting prowess has been a crucial reason for the Crusaders’ 15-game winning streak. Sheehan said the rest of the players feed off Triezenberg’s charisma and natural leadership.

“He’s an amazing player,” Sheehan said. “With him batting leadoff, you just know that we’re going to start well. He always finds a way to get the job done.

“I’m always comfortable with him in the field or at the plate.”

Hitting is also a state of expression. Quiet off the field, he shows his emotion at the plate.

“I’m confident every time I go up there,” Triezenberg said. “I think it’s also a reflection of the experience. This is my third year playing varsity.

“At first I was just trying to be a role player and help out the older guys. Last year, I felt like I was that guy — one of the leaders.”

Sophomore first baseman Brady Cunningham said Triezenberg is the ideal face of the team.

“When you watch him in practice, the first thing you notice is how hard he works and how he’s outhustling everyone,” Cunningham said. “I feel like his leadership spreads to the rest of the team.

“Everybody likes to play off him. Everyone believes in him and trusts him.”

Triezenberg’s earliest memories are playing baseball at the age of 3 or 4. The rhythm and flow would end up sticking with him.

“Every time I go up, I just do my thing,” Triezenberg said of his batting mindset. “If he throws me a strike, I’m just going to try to hit it hard. The game is pretty much my whole life.

“The thing that makes it worthwhile is being with my teammates. I love having fun with them.”

Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.