By Aidan Nohava ‘25

The Crusaders took on the Lincoln Way Central Knights on Monday, April 1. The game was a big deal not only because it was the first Do It Stevies Way game of the year, but also because there were a lot of friendships that had to be put to the side for the game.

For the past four years, our starting shortstop Gavin Triezenberg and I have played on the same summer travel team with three players from the Knights. During some of those years, Brother Rice Head Coach Sean McBride and Pitching Coach Drew Dominik have coached us as well. As a result of spending so much time together over the summers, our families have become really close.

Coach Dominik said, “To see the players that I coached over the summer one last time is a fun but sad experience. It’s great to see how much they have improved over the offseason but also sad that this is my last goodbye to them.”

This was not only a personal game for us, but also for sophomore Brady Cunningham as well. Lincoln Way Central would be Brady’s public school. He also knows a lot of the people who were on the team and all of the families that were in attendance.

Cunningham said, “It was super fun to play against the people I have lived with in the same neighborhood as my whole life.”

Every time there’s a chance to play in a Do It Stevie’s Way game, it’s always an emotional experience where tensions are high; you’re playing for something greater than the game. This game wasn’t just emotional because of that, but it would also be the last time I would share the field with some of my closest friends.

With that being said, the only people that are your friends on the field are the ones in maroon and orange.

Senior Gavin Triezenberg said, “Ever since we found out we were playing each other, there was nonstop smack talk. It was a game that was circled on both of our calendars.”

There was a battle all game. The Crusaders ended up coming back from a five run deficit.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Crusaders were down by two with Brady Cunningham having an emotional edge all game. He stepped up to the plate and knew he had to show what he could do in front of all of his hometown friends.

Brady hit a game tying two-run-homerun. It put sophomore Anthony Cartolano in position to walk it off with a RBI single.

“Hitting the walkoff was an awesome feeling, but I couldn’t have been put into that position if it wasn’t for the guys in front of me,” said Cartalano.

After the game, we all put our pride to the side and came together and hugged it out one last time. We also finished the night in good ole Brother Rice fashion by enjoying some Barraco’s Pizza.

It’s always fun to play against your friends. I am glad that we will have this memory together, because this will be a game we will talk about for the rest of our lives.

Picture Credits: Aidan Nohava and Hubbard Media