After a recent home game, Marian Catholic senior Mark DiLuia raked the dirt around first base, the pitcher’s mound and, finally, home plate.
Shouldn’t one of the underclassmen be doing that?
“Mark is the most unbelievable kid I’ve ever coached,” Marian Catholic coach Tony DeCarlo said. “We don’t have to tell him to do something. He takes it upon himself to do it. He’s very team-oriented. He takes pride in everything he does. He’s a great leader for our younger players to look up to.”
DiLuia prefers to have the spotlight shine on the program, not himself.
The Maryland recruit is the type who lets his performance do the talking.
“I try my best to help the younger guys understand it’s not about them or me,” DiLuia said. “It’s about the program and playing the game the right way.”
There isn’t much DiLuia hasn’t done right this season.
The 6-foot-3 right-hander is 5-0 with a 1.89 ERA, and is hitting .439 with nine doubles, three homers and 16 RBIs.
DiLuia believes he’s a much more polished pitcher than last season, when he was 6-2 with an 0.70 ERA.
“I think I know what to do in certain situations better,” DiLuia said. “I know when to rear back and throw a little harder and when to try and hit my spots. Know who is at the plate in certain situations. I’ve worked on my craft and don’t try to strike out everybody.”
He’s still whiffed 40 batters in 33 innings.
Maryland recruited DiLuia as a pitcher, though he wouldn’t be opposed to occasionally swinging the bat.
“I’m hoping they’ll give me a shot to hit,” he said. “Either way, I’m fortunate to be playing at Maryland.”
Marian Catholic (17-8) has five sophomores on the varsity, including pitchers Mike Bohlen, Jordan Smevoll and Chandler Kerr.
DiLuia has no doubt they’re up to the challenge.
“Bohlen knows how to hit his spots,” DiLuia said. “He’s the strongest mentally I’ve seen as a sophomore. Smevoll and Chandler know how to pitch.”
Though the Spartans’ offense has been inconsistent, DiLuia is confident the bats will heat up along with the temperature.
“I think we’re going to be fine,” DiLuia said.
Tough times: It’s been a tough season for Oak Forest (12-12), which was expected to rank among the area’s elite teams.
The injury bug, however, has prevented that from happening. One tough loss: senior Jake Jones, a Murray State recruit.
Not only was Jones expected to form a wicked one-two pitching punch along with Milwaukee recruit Mike Edwards, but he was also counted on to provide a steady glove at third base and a potent bat at clean-up.
Oak Forest coach Ron Czarnecki said a sore right elbow has kept Jones on the bench for the past 19 games.
“It’s been a struggle,” Czarnecki said. “We had two D-I pitchers we thought would make us compete against anybody. Losing Jones is like losing three players.”
Czarnecki is hoping Jones can return during the postseason.
“I still believe we have enough to make a run,” Czarnecki said. “We have to do a better job of picking up the ball.”
Did you know: St. Laurence graduate Zach Lewis is 3-3 with a 2.70 ERA for Wichita State. The senior right-hander has allowed 49 hits, 27 walks and has struck out 46 over 63 1/3 innings in 11 starts.
Twitter @disabato
TOP 10
Records through Tuesday, with last week’s rankings in parentheses
1. St. Laurence 25-2 (1)
2. Brother Rice 22-6 (3)
3. Lemont 23-3 (2)
4. Chicago Christian 32-0 (6)
5. St. Rita 20-7 (4)
6. Lincoln-Way West 17-9 (7)
7. Lincoln-Way Central 17-7 (9)
8. Andrew 19-7 (10)
9. Providence 15-12 (NR)
10. Mount Carmel 21-5 (5)
Player of the Week: Senior Nate Madej was 6-for-11 at the plate and 2-0 on the mound, allowing six hits and striking out six over 8 2/3 innings for Lemont.
