Without hesitation, senior outfielder Chris Daugherty answered the call for Brother Rice.
The Crusaders were seeking to energize the attack, so Daugherty stepped into the void and took on the role as the team’s leadoff hitter with a sense of urgency — and a sense of purpose.
“We’d been struggling with finding the leadoff hitter, so my coach put me there,” said Daugherty, a Lewis recruit and a three-year varsity regular. “My favorite part is just setting the tone.
“If I can get a base hit or find a way to get on, that just brings out the confidence to the top of the order and everyone else down the line.”
Thursday’s rain took down the next game in the series, but Daugherty was the final batter Tuesday afternoon for the Crusaders in a 5-4 Catholic League Blue victory over Mount Carmel in Chicago.
His walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the ninth inning secured the thrilling win.
To date, Daugherty has been the energizer, batting .306 with 25 hits, eight runs and 14 RBIs for Brother Rice (13-13, 7-4). He blends a sharp eye with patience, consistently putting balls in play.
“I’m more of a contact guy than a power hitter,” Daugherty said. “I almost never strike out. I really like to beat the pitcher any way that I can.”
Brother Rice coach Sean McBride calls Daugherty a throwback who’s essential to the team.
“He is an old-school baseball player who can bunt, run and hit in the clutch,” McBride said. “He’s a captain and leader who can play all three outfield positions very well.”
Two years ago as a sophomore, Daugherty saw significant action as the Crusaders took third place in the state in Class 4A. His older brother, Nick, also was an outfielder on the team.
His older half-brother, Mike Emanuelson, is a former three-sport athlete at Brother Rice who serves as the video coordinator for the baseball program.
Chris played in 17 games that season, finishing with seven runs and six RBIs.
“It was one of the coolest experiences I ever had because I never really played with my brother before,” he said. ”It was one of the greatest teams in Rice history, and I was able to practice with him every day and play in a lot of really fun Catholic League games.”
Brother Rice’s Chris Daugherty (29) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Mount Carmel in the third inning of a Catholic League Blue game in Chicago on Thursday, April 27, 2023. (Paul Beaty / Daily Southtown)
Senior center fielder Ryan Hartz has developed a strong rapport with Daugherty.
“It’s always great having one of your best friends in the outfield with you,” Hartz said of his defensive compatriot. “Playing with him makes everything so much easier.
“In baseball, you always want to be as comfortable as you can, and I’ve never been more comfortable than with having him next to me.”
If his defensive prowess captures praise and his timely hitting helps win games, Daugherty also is appreciated for his intangibles and connecting the disparate parts of the team.
Senior pitcher Casey Giemzik confirmed as much.
“I have 100% confidence in him to come up in a big spot and make a big play for the team,” Giemzik said. “We’ve played together or against each other ever since middle school.
“He has always been a leader and one of the hardest working players on the field. He’s a big reason why I went to Brother Rice.”
Daugherty describes his sensibility as outgoing and personal. His great passion off the field is listening to music.
The great appeal of baseball to Daugherty? How elastic and multidimensional the sport is, rarely defined by a single action though a string of occurrences and possibilities.
“I love the mental side of baseball,” Daugherty said. “Every other sport feels like it’s on the fly. With baseball, in every situation, you have time to think about and plan what you’re going to do.
“I like that.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
