Pitching with a one-run lead in the seventh inning is no sweat for Sandburg’s Drew Drzonek.
Drzonek, a junior utility player, has plenty of experience in big moments. He’s a three-sport athlete who pulls double duty in the fall, playing soccer and kicking for the football team.
“Kicking and pitching are very similar, because with both, it’s just you out there and it’s all eyes on you,” Drzonek said. “If I can handle the pressure when I’m kicking and know that my snapper and holder are going to get the job done, I can translate that to baseball and knowing that my fielders are going to do the job as long as I can make the pitch.”
Drzonek was ready for the big moment Friday, pitching out of some tough situations to earn the win with two innings of scoreless relief in lifting the host Eagles to a 3-2 victory over Richards in Orland Park.
Giovanni Longo walked and scored on a wild pitch to break a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the sixth for Sandburg (3-1). Quinn Durkin went 3-for-4 with a double and scored a run, while Nick Morsovillo delivered an RBI double.
Ethan Neakarse turned in a strong start for the Eagles, allowing one earned run on four hits and striking out five in five-plus innings.
Illinois-Chicago recruit Sean Cody threw three scoreless innings for Richards (2-2), striking out five and allowing three hits. Noah Escobedo went 2-for-3 with a double and Jason Campbell contributed a single and an RBI.
Drzonek came in with a runner on first and no outs in the top of the sixth and walked the first two batters he faced to load the bases. But he got out of it allowing just one run, then shut the Bulldogs down in the seventh to secure the win.
Sandburg coach Jim Morsovillo was confident Drzonek would be ready for a late-inning role.
“Going into the season, we thought he could be that guy to kind of come in for clutch situations,” Morsovillo said. “When you’ve got to go out there and kick field goals and stuff like that, we know he can handle the pressure.
“We’ve got to throw more strikes, but he hung in there and battled and got the job done.”
Drzonek, who has played baseball his whole life, has always had a love for soccer. Kicking has turned into his new passion over the last few years.
“I started kicking in eighth grade,” he said. “I was a big soccer guy and I went to St. Michael, which has a football team. They wanted me to come out and be their kicker, so I tried it out.
“Now, I’ve been going to a few showcases and getting my name out there. I’m hoping to have a future in kicking.”
Durkin and Nick Morsovillo helped set the stage for Drzonek to close out the win Friday. Batting out of the leadoff spot, Durkin sparked the Eagles with two singles and a double.
Nick Morsovillo drove in Durkin with a fifth-inning double.
“I just know we need men on base to start,” Durkin said. “I do it as much as I can. It doesn’t matter how I get on as long as I do. Getting on for ‘Morso’ to drive me in and start our scoring, that was pretty big.”
Drzonek took care of the rest. He’s also an infielder who is ready to put his versatility to use this season.
“I’m used to playing different positions, but this year I feel like I’m going to be changing more, plus coming into pitch when they need me, and it’s more of a dice roll for where I’m going to be playing.
“So, I just always have to be ready for anything.”
