|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Sports
A big scouting report : Sports : Oswego Ledger-Sentinel : Hometown Newspaper for Oswego and Montgomery, IllinoisA big scouting report
| Oswego East's Schultz on the MLB draft radar as Wolves play final season under Vera
| by Christine Bolin
| 3/22/2012
|
The Oswego East baseball team is going to have to get used to seeing scouts at its games this season. With senior Matt Schultz, an Auburn University-bound pitcher, has a solid opportunity to be drafted this spring.
Already, scouts are contacting Oswego East head coach Jim Vera about Schultz, when he's going to pitch and where his pitch count is set.
"It's definitely exciting, but pretty intense," Vera said. "I'm happy for him. Auburn is big. I can't tell you how many players from around the area go to the (Southeastern Conference), but it's great to see.
"I'm confident he's going to get drafted. The matter is not if, but where. He's got an opportunity to do that. He has an opportunity to do something a lot of people don't get to do."
Schultz was back at full strength by the end of last season after undergoing Tommy Johns surgery as a sophomore. He had a strong summer and was impressive at the showcases he participated in. Even though Schultz is a big part of the Wolves' squad, Vera said Oswego East has a solid core of players in its lineup this season.
"Matt would be the first to say that," Vera said. "That's what I like about him. He knows he is just a part of it all. The excitement Matt is going to bring gives us a lot of confidence. They want to play well. They want to do well because they don't get a ton of chances like this."
In addition to Schultz, seniors Matt Miller and Adam Kishanov will be in the pitching rotation along with junior David Schurr. Schultz and Schurr were responsible for six of Oswego East's 10 wins last year. Eric Egan, who graduated, had the other four.
Seniors Andy Jaskolski (second baseman who batted in the .260s last season), Mike Cherven (catcher who batted .350), Zach DiZillo (first base), Collin Griffin (outfielder) and Zach Delli (pitcher) are all back from the team that went 10-20 overall.
"We were very disappointed how last season went," Vera said. "We were expecting to be in the 15-20 (win) range. We just lost a lot of close games early. It became a mental thing after a while. The only positive thing about that is they are going to be a tougher team mentally this year."
The Wolves also went 7-14 in the Southwest Prairie Conference - something else they are hoping to improve upon.
"Our conference is always tough," Vera said. "Our goal is always to be more competitive in the conference. Plainfield North and Minooka have traditionally been the powerhouses. We finished sixth (of eight teams) so it was disappointing."
Vera is hoping the combination of a superb pitching staff, returning players and promising newcomers like juniors shortstop Chris Cooper and outfielders Gunnar Mlsna and Sean Kennedy will put the Wolves at an advantage this year.
"We feel very positive about our chances this season," Vera said. "It's exciting for me to already have a good idea of what we have."
Unfortunately for the Wolves, this will be Vera's final season as head coach. After five years at Oswego East (and 23 years of coaching in all), he is taking a break to spend more time with his family, especially his two-and-a-half year old son, Eddie.
The Wolves began the 2012 season last Saturday against Streamwood. The Sabres won, 6-4, at Oswego East.
Schultz pitched the first 2 1/3 innings, but got a no-decision after he struck out five batters and gave up two hits. The Wolves utilized six pitchers.
Cooper and Miller each recorded a pair of RBI and leadoff man Jaskolski posted a team-high three hits.
The Wolves traveled to West Aurora for a non-conference game on Wednesday, but results were not available at press time.
On Saturday, Oswego East will host Larkin in a doubleheader at 10 a.m. That will be followed by another doubleheader next Tuesday against Geneva at 10 a.m.
Southwest Prairie Conference games for the Wolves begin April 3 as Oswego East hosts Romeoville. They have to wait until the final three games of the season (May 15-17) to take on rival Oswego.
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
