By Josh Torres ‘25

Brother Rice Baseball started off April hot after going 9-0 in a two-week span.

After a rough 2024 season, the Brother Rice Baseball program hasn’t looked back. Now 12-1, Brother Rice has won their first 9 games in April, defeating two top five Kentucky baseball teams, Trinity 5-2 and St. Xavier 12-6.

Senior Aidan Nohava said, “It’s a great confidence booster in every aspect after a rough season. When the team is playing good, it gives each player the confidence for them to play good. It’s a domino effect.”

After a rainy weekend in Kentucky, the team were just getting started. Playing five games within six days, they took it one game at a time. Crusaders started the week off hot, defeating Leo High School and Fenwick High School with a combined score of 37-9.

Sophomore Brady Cunningham said, “(It) felt great to start off the week strong, but we all knew that the job was not finished. Winning these two games gave us the momentum that helped lead us to sweeping the week.”

The team then headed to Lyons Township High school for a Do It Stevie’s Way match-up. The Crusaders were led by pitcher Braydon McKendrick. McKendrick had an outstanding day, going 5 innings with 8 strikeouts and letting up 0 earned runs. The team defeated Lyons Township Lions 6-1.

McKendrick said, “It felt great going out there and dominating in the Do It Stevie’s Way game. Not only is it a great experience, but it will prepare me for later on in the season.”

The Crusaders played their next two games in a span of 24 hours, defeating St. Francis High School and Chicago Hope Academy by a combined score of 19-6. They finished the week going 5-0.

Senior Tadgh Callaghan said, “After a shaky inning against Leo on Monday, it felt great going out there and dealing against St. Francis. This performance made me feel like my sophomore self, a huge confidence booster.”

The team won their first conference game, defeating DePaul Prep High School 18-2. The Crusaders were led offensively by senior Gavin Trienzenberg, who went 2 for 3 at the plate with a grand slam and a single.

Triezenberg said, “I felt good about my performance. My stroke was feeling a little tight to begin with, but I was able to loosen it up throughout the game.”

After hosting DePaul Prep and Lockport, the Crusaders look to continue their dominance and add more to the win column.

Photo Credits: Mike Emanuelson