Through the ups and downs this season, the Cyclones never gave up and pushed to the end of a tough stretch.
In his six years leading the baseball team, Head Coach Hugh Dennehy said this was the hardest schedule the team has had. Plus, the area is loaded with talent and hefty rosters, including one team that went to the college World Series, all of which gave the Cyclones a run for their money.
Judging the team from their overall record (10-26) or Skyway Conference record (3-11) doesn't quite reflect on how much these guys fought the whole season.
"The team never quit. We lost a lot of hard-fought games, but we also beat some good teams that won 30 games like Kankakee and Milwaukee Area Tech. So, we did something right. We were capable," Dennehy said. "COVID had its mark on the season for readiness and eligibility of players, and we lost some guys to grades, but we just needed to work on the smaller things."
Among the 25-man roster, several players had a good run. Sophomore Colin Bulger (Richards) did whatever the coaches needed him to do, and he came through as a pitcher and catcher. Sophomore Anthony Cappelletti (Romeoville) was a big hitter for the Cyclones, averaging .347 at the plate with 13 RBIs.
Freshman Samuel Rogers (Evergreen Park) caught most of the games, putting in a lot of work behind the plate. First year Gilberto Hernandez (Maine Township) played first base and pitched for the Cyclones, spending more time on the field than not. He threw a 4.50 ERA with nine strikeouts and hit .240 with 22 RBIs and three homeruns. He is expected to be a big asset next season. Outfield freshmen Brian Funk (Sandburg) and Robert Warchol (Richards) gained plenty of experience and played well, averaging a .302 and .300, respectively, at the plate.
Among those returning next season, Dennehy is looking for Cole Hermanson (Shepard) to be one of his top pitchers while Daniel Rosado (Reavis) will be a super sophomore coming back for a third year to throw for the Cyclones. Between the returners and recruits, the Cyclones are poised for more success, taking with them some lessons from this year.
"This was one of the most challenging years, and I learned as much as they did. We've got to work hard and can't cut corners," Dennehy said. "Baseball has life experiences, and I told the guys that character is defined on how you face adversity. These guys fought the whole time, even if the record didn't show it. They showed character. They now understand how hard it was. Now, we're getting a head start on next year."