Matt Ritchie is the latest in a long line of quality pitchers that have gone through St. Charles North during the tenure of coach Todd Genke.
Ritchie, a highly touted sophomore right-hander, stands 6-foot-3 and already possesses a fastball that can hit 90 mph. Genke, a former minor league pitcher, knows he has a unique talent on his hands.
“For such a young kid, really good baseball mind, competitor,” Genke said of Ritchie. “Obviously, he’s been blessed with a strong right arm.
“He’s an exciting young player and he’s an even better human being. When you put those two things together, that’s pretty special.”
Ritchie took another big step forward Saturday in a 3-0 DuKane Conference win over crosstown rival St. Charles East. He worked six shutout innings, hitting his pitch count of 90 with a strikeout to end the sixth.
Ritchie struck out 10 while scattering four hits and two walks for St. Charles North (9-6, 5-2). Josh Kobylinski came on in the seventh to nail down the save.
Keaton Reinke chipped in with two hits, including a double, two runs and two stolen bases for the North Stars. Ben Auer, Ty Heimbuch and Nolan Macholz each tallied RBI singles. James Feigleson had two hits for St. Charles East (10-10, 6-4).
Ritchie kept his eye on the Saints’ lineup while playing third base Friday in the series opener at Northwestern Medicine Field in Geneva. Showing his maturity, he started putting together a scouting report in his head for Saturday’s game.
“All night, I was at third studying their hitters and seeing what was going to get them,” Ritchie said. “I just wanted to work quickly and get ahead.”
That’s an area of his game that Genke confirmed is still evolving — dictating the pace of the game.
It wasn’t a problem at all Saturday, however.
“Sometimes he gets slowed down a little bit, so we’ve been working with him on that,” Genke said. “He was in control the entire game, so I’m very proud of him and happy for him.”
Genke also calls pitches for Ritchie, who is all ears. Genke focused on the fastball and curveball the first couple times through the order before having Ritchie mix in change-ups later in the game.
“I’ve never questioned anything he’s called,” Ritchie said. “I’ve developed my change-up. The last time through the order, I had another weapon to get them with, another pitch for them to see.”
Reinke led off the bottom of the first inning with a walk, stole second and scored on Auer’s RBI single. Ritchie made that lead hold up in a pitcher’s duel with St. Charles East’s Nathan Moline before the North Stars tacked on two insurance runs in the sixth.
“That’s a game where you have to tip your cap to their pitcher,” St. Charles East coach Derek Sutor said. “He seemed to get stronger as the game went on. Our guys didn’t adjust at the plate.
“He owned the mound. He stayed calm. The stage didn’t faze him.”
Sutor was impressed with how Moline went toe-to-toe with Ritchie.
“That’s kind of the thing he’s done all season for us,” Sutor said. “He’s a guy who’s turning into somebody that we’re going to count on down the stretch.”
In terms of demeanor and arm talent, Genke likens Ritchie to former ace Josh Caccia. Ritchie has more size and more velocity but Genke would still like him to adopt some of Caccia’s traits as he moves along.
“I’m hoping it develops more into Caccia,” Genke said. “He was a pitcher — he wasn’t a thrower. Matt’s starting to graduate from being that thrower to being a pitcher and being able to command three pitches and command the mound.
“He’s going to be a fun kid to watch the next few years.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
