Watching Geneva’s Mason Bruesch pitch, the first thing that stands out is his funky delivery.
How did he come up with that whippy, three-quarters approach? By happenstance, actually.
“I hurt my elbow when I was like 12,” Bruesch said. “And that’s how I’ve been throwing since.”
It works for him, however, and coach Brad Wendell just lets Bruesch do his thing. The sophomore right-hander delivered another strong effort Tuesday in a 5-2 nonconference win at South Elgin.
Bruesch, who was tagged with both of the Vikings’ early losses, finally cracked the win column for Geneva (8-2). He struck out five in five innings, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk.
Out of the leadoff spot, Bruesch also went 2-for-4 and scored a run. Tate Beran drove in a pair of runs, while Ryan Kastor picked up his second save with two scoreless innings of relief.
Sophomore lefty Kyle Iott came through with a solid outing for South Elgin (1-8), leaving with the lead after striking out seven in five innings. He only gave up one run on three hits and a walk.
Jacob Robertson reached base three times and also scored a run for the Storm.
When Wendell was growing up, a pitcher with Bruesch’s unique delivery may have been altered. The mindset that Wendell and pitching coach Eric Mays employ these days is a little bit different.
“We let him be,” Wendell said of Bruesch. “We just try to keep him in the zone, especially in this day and age. We get kids for 35 games. We’re not trying to change them.
“We’re trying to maximize their talent, whatever that is, whatever they bring to us.”
Bruesch confirmed that he’s slightly concerned when getting in front of new coaches who may try to remove the funkiness from his delivery. He’s thankful that’s not the case at Geneva.
“You always worry about it, but they let me do what I need to do,” Bruesch said. “Coach Mays does a good job. He tells me if I’m missing on my curveball, if I need to get on top.
“We’ve both helped each other out.”
Bruesch was locked in a duel with South Elgin’s sophomore pitcher for five innings. Iott was just as dominant as Bruesch, showcasing what could be in store for the rest of the season.
“I was very proud of him, being able to mix things up and throw strikes, being able to throw that curveball over in tough situations,” South Elgin coach Jim Kating said of Iott. “I was happy.”
As has been the case often this spring, though, Geneva found a way to come back and South Elgin found a way to relinquish the lead.
Geneva’s late-inning prowess has been uncanny. The Vikings already have three walk-off wins.
It was a sixth-inning squeeze bunt from Ethan Gronberg that gave Geneva the lead Tuesday before the Vikings tacked on two more runs in the seventh.
“All these guys are finding ways to get it done,” Wendell said. “If we can keep it close, we feel like we can win it late, and that’s what’s happened. The ball has rolled our way for whatever reason.”
Geneva’s comeback Tuesday helped Bruesch get that first win of the season on the mound, which elicited a sigh of relief from him afterward.
“We came together and hit,” Bruesch said. “That gave me a little bit of a buffer, gave me some confidence on the mound, too. Big win, for sure.”
Wendell has maintained that confidence all along.
“He’s done a great job early on,” Wendell said of Bruesch. “He had one bad inning this year. He’s going to keep us in games by throwing strikes like he does. He’s got good stuff.
“I’m just proud of the way he’s handling himself.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
