Lockport senior Cal Korosa has been a pitcher virtually his entire life.
In that time, he has seen just about all the ups and downs — big wins, tough defeats.
Breaking his mom’s nose with a throw when he was 13 years old was definitely a low point.
“My mom is more the sports person in the family,” Korosa said. “Ever since I was 6, I played catch with my mom until I broke her nose. I was a little mad at myself, but stuff happens.”
But let’s talk about the good stuff like Thursday afternoon, when Korosa struck out three in two solid innings of relief for the Porters during an 11-5 nonconference victory at Marist in Chicago.
Lockport (13-10-1) held a slim 5-3 lead in the top of the fifth and needed a strong outing from the 6-foot-2 Korosa to hold the line.
Check that box. Yes, Korosa gave up a pair of singles in the sixth, but stranded both with an unassisted putout and a strikeout to end the inning.
Meanwhile, the Porters erupted with six runs in the top of the sixth, including doubles from senior pinch-hitter Michael Fiedor and senior right fielder Ryan Groberski.
Marist (10-11) was led by sophomore third baseman Ryan Lawlor, who had a bases-loaded double in the third that drove in all three runs. Freshman right fielder Tommy Hosty scored twice.
Admittedly, it’s been an up-and-down season for Korosa, who’s in his second year on varsity.
“We recently made a move to shift him to the bullpen a little bit more,” Lockport coach Scott Malinowski said. “He’s been a starter all year. He was an all-conference starter last year. And to be honest, he struggled a little bit out of the starting role.
“We’re trying to mix it up with him and get some feel back, in terms of just coming in and being in attack mode, and hopefully that can translate once we get him back in the starting role here within a week or two.”
Sophomore catcher Colton Benaitis noticed the difference Thursday — that while this season has been challenging, Korosa countered with challenging stuff, mostly two-seam fastballs running in.
“He was able to stay under control and calm,” Benatis said of Korosa. “Just pound the zone like he does.”
Groberski, who went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs, said Korosa’s outing helped the Porters’ other hitters focus on what they needed to do in the sixth and keep the same mentality.
“Just go up there, do what we all do and have the same mindset,” Groberski said. “Go up there, thinking like it’s a 0-0 ballgame, and good things will happen.”
Moving to the bullpen might sound like a tough pill to swallow. But for Korosa, guess again.
Pitching is pitching, whether it’s starting, closing or coming in midgame with the opportunity to hold an opponent.
“I believe that I’m ready to pitch in any situation,” Korosa said. “I’m ready for any spot. All it is, is just mentality, pitch with intensity and I’m not afraid of anyone.”
The playoffs are on the horizon, and so is graduation. Korosa will head off to play baseball in college at McHenry in Crystal Lake.
A lot of high school athletes consider the recruiting process to be stressful, and sometimes, it really isn’t very fun. Not for Korosa. He enjoyed it, but that goes back to his love of the sport.
That’s why he doesn’t play other sports, although his mom, Nicole, didn’t want him playing football.
“Baseball is my sport,” he said. “Since 6 or 7 years old, I’m doing what I love.”
Gregg Voss is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
