Andrew Set to Enter into an Arms Race

Coach: Dave DeHaan

Last year’s record: 27-11 overall, 11-3 in the Southwest Suburban Red. The Thunderbolts were co-conference champions with Stagg. The T-Bolts also were regional and sectional champions with a win over Brother Rice in extra innings. Andrew lost to St. Rita in the supersectionals.

Opener: March 22 at Kankakee

Quick hit: “Our guys really prepared well in the offseason," Andrew coach Dave DeHaan said. "We can repeat if the guys believe in themselves. Our sophomores who are now juniors won (more than) 25 games last year. We will have good senior leadership this year, even though they didn't have a lot of playing time."

Infield: Senior Chris Golumaki, junior Mark Kane, junior Pat Elgat, senior Brian Grad, senior Phil Bria, senior Carl Ehlers and senior Brian Cobb will rotate time at the various infield positions. Golumaki will stay at third most of the time. He hit .310 last year.

Outfield: Senior Nick DeBenedetti returns in center for the Thunderbolts. Dan Durkin, Brian Cobb, Matt Biernat and Steve Carrabotta will split time in the corner outfield positions. Justin Rzeszuko also will play some outfield and DH when the T-Bolts need some lefty pop.

Pitching staff: Dan Truesdale will return to the mound after a 5-0 season last year. Ryan McCallum also will be a senior leader. The top junior to watch will be Pat McKewon. Left-hander Brian Scheulin will get some innings as well as Marcus Radz in a right-handed relief role.

Catcher: Greg Bothwell and Brennan Gallagher will split time behind the plate.

Coach Dan DeHaan says: “We're good, but we don't have a lot of guys with experience. We are very deep.  Our current senior class didn't get a lot of playing time last year, but hopefully that experience at the varsity level will help. We're going to have a lot of fun. If we throw strikes and make plays, we'll be successful."

College recruits: Nick DeBenedetti will be playing football at St. Xavier next year. Phil Bria has committed to play baseball at Elmhurst College.