To capture the moment, Brother Rice’s Colin Campbell concentrated on the small details.
The sophomore shortstop, who came through with a bunt in the second inning that led to two crucial runs, wasn’t worried about the gravity of the situation. He just kept his eye on the ball.
“I had some nerves playing in such a big game,” said Campbell, who’s committed to Louisville. “Coach gave me the sign. I stepped up, executed it when I needed too out there and did my job.
“I’m going to do anything necessary for the team.”
Campbell also scored a run and played superb defense Saturday for the Crusaders in a 3-2 victory over Mount Carmel in the Class 4A Reavis Sectional championship game in Burbank.
Senior second baseman Jackson Natanek added two hits and earned the pitching win with a strikeout in 1 1/3 innings of relief for Brother Rice (35-3), which plays defending state champion Providence (27-12) at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Crestwood Supersectional at Ozinga Field.
Junior outfielder Logan Fernandez produced an RBI single and junior shortstop Joey Ireland, an Illinois recruit, also knocked in a run for Mount Carmel (23-14).
Sophomore infielder Brady Cunningham scored the winning run on an error with the bases loaded on a walk-off fielder’s choice from senior outfielder Conner Stack in the seventh.
Campbell, meanwhile, created the early offense for the Crusaders with a bunt that brought in junior outfielder Nolan Ramoley. Campbell then scored on a wild pitch for a 2-1 lead.
Senior designated hitter Aidan Nohava, an Eastern Michigan recruit, praised Campbell afterward.
“The stats might not show it, but Colin was huge for us and did a lot to impact the win,” Nohava said. “The trust the team and coaches have with him is just a great reflection of the player he is.”
Natanek has a special affinity for Campbell as Brother Rice’s middle infield combo.
“He’s really talented and a very confident player,” Natanek said. “That allows for what he is able to do out there. He did a great job getting that bunt down and helping hype up the team.”
In his first season on varsity, Campbell is hitting .338 with 29 runs, 25 hits, four doubles and 17 RBIs. His speed and fluidity in the infield makes him a crucial defensive anchor.
”He’s just an elite level defender,” Brother Rice coach Sean McBride said of Campbell, who has a 0.926 fielding percentage. ”He’s earned his way. He’s tough-minded and never gets rattled.
“You saw that in the way he plays. We have 100% confidence in him.”
Campbell also has made some appearances as a pitcher this spring, showing off his versatility.
“I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is just how to slow my brain down,” he said. “The game is a lot faster than at the lower level. You have to take big, deep breaths.”
Campbell is the youngest in a family of four. His older brother, Nick, was a standout at Stagg. He became Colin’s inspiration.
“I’m just a baseball kid,” Campbell said. “I think I was born to play the game. I played basketball up until my freshman year. Watching my brother just made me fall in love with it every year.
“Each year I’ve played, that has only deepened.”
Part of that maturation is figuring out how to negotiate the natural ebb and flow of the game.
That means not thinking twice about leaving the bases loaded with a fly out in the third inning.
“There are always big ups and downs in a game and you just have to realize that you’re the man,” he said. ”You just have to think about getting from A to B. The next time up, I got a walk.
“You just have to let it go.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
