THE SLEEPER
Nevils comes up big with homer and 3 RBIs as Brother Rice beats Marist in Sunday matinee
On a team filled with stars and prized recruits, it’s easy to overlook junior outfielder/catcher Bryce Nevils, even though he has been batting in the middle of Brother Rice’s order all season.
“Everybody calls me the sleeper on the team,” Nevils said. “All the scouts and stuff say that. I just want to make my name known. It motivates me to show that I’m one of the top guys on the team.”
Nevils has yet to see his recruiting take off, but when scouts come to check out his teammates, he knows he has opportunities to make a mark.
“I’m still trying to get my name out there,” he said. “It just makes me work harder when no one’s looking so I can be ready to show out at these games.”
Nevils had a big game Sunday as visiting Brother Rice rolled to a 14-5 win over Pulaski Road rival
Marist in Chicago. He went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and hit his fourth home run of the season.
After the RedHawks scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game 4-4, the Crusaders responded in resounding fashion with an eight-run sixth.
Nevils had both a double and two-run homer in the big inning for Brother Rice (28-4).
“That home run felt good, especially to hit it against our rivals,” he said. “Last year, we lost to them in the Stevie’s Way Tournament, so we really wanted this one.
“My approach has been different lately. I’ve been thinking opposite field. My coaches have been telling me to stay back and trust my hands. I got the pitches I wanted to hit.”
Nevils is hitting .326 with 21 runs and 21 RBIs.
Brother Rice coach Sean McBride said Nevils’ “sleeper” status is surprising.
“It’s crazy to think because he’s such a good hitter,” McBride said. “He’s probably got the most juice on the team. With Bryce, you just have to kind of reel him in. I think he gets a little homer happy at times.
“He’s got some strength and he works really hard. We’ve talked to him about focusing on staying up the middle. That home run (Sunday) was a great knockout punch.”
Nevils’ first baseball experience came as an emergency replacement.
“When I was 9 years old, my mom’s friend called her and told her they needed a catcher on her son’s team for a game,” Nevils said. “They didn’t have enough people.
“I went out there and had a little second baseman’s glove and was trying to catch. I didn’t even know what I was doing, but I’ve loved the sport ever since.”
Blazing Bengals: Oak Forest (20-7) has won 10 of its last 11 games, reaching double digits for runs in six games.
Junior first baseman Trent Dian pointed out the difference.
“We’re gaining a lot of confidence,” Dian said. “There’s a lot of positivity in the dugout. We just want to keep it going. The key is to keep having fun.”
The Bengals (13-3) are battling Lemont (14-3) for the South Suburban
Blue title and will take at least a share of the conference championship if they can win their final three games this week against Argo, Eisenhower and Bremen.
Astro accomplishments: On May 9, Shepard coach Frank DiFoggio picked up his 400th career win in a 15-0 victory over Argo, but DiFoggio was more interested in celebrating the combined four-inning perfect game pitched by Tyler Bartczak and Dominic Chillmon.
“Those guys accomplishing something that wonderful was really the highlight of the day,” DiFoggio said. “My number just means I’m old and I’ve had a lot of very good players. I never threw a pitch, swung a bat or caught a ball.”
Shepard (14-10, 10-4) is in a tight race with Reavis (17-10-1, 12-3) in the South Suburban Red, with the teams set to meet Friday.