After four years of playing football and baseball at Andrew, senior outfielder Ryan Burns is preparing for the end of his athletic career.
Burns plans to study business at Indiana, where he will give up sports and focus on academics. So, he certainly wants to make his final run on the baseball field a special one.
“These games mean everything to me,” Burns said. “I’ll remember them forever. Every game, I want to just do my best and have fun. I have nothing else to get ready for anymore.
“This is it. I definitely want to savor it.”
Burns created some major memories Thursday, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and a run to help the host Thunderbolts roll to a 10-0 win over Shepard in six innings in a Class 4A Andrew Regional semifinal in Tinley Park.
Jason Rediger also chipped in with a pair of doubles, finishing 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run for fifth-seeded Andrew (25-11), which will take on fourth-seeded Lincoln-Way Central (20-10) at 11 a.m. Saturday in the regional final.
JT Iles went 2-for-4 with a run and Drew Alexander added two RBIs for the Thunderbolts. Ben Reilly, making just his second start of the season after typically pitching out of the bullpen, threw six shutout innings, striking out nine and allowing just two hits and no walks.
“I was really excited,” Reilly said. “It’s my first year on varsity and I worked really hard all year to get this opportunity. I prepared myself well (Wednesday) night. I got some good rest, ate some good food today and my whole body felt great.
“I was ready for the game. I was hyped.”
TJ Georgis and Steve Magana each had a double for 11th-seeded Shepard (13-17-2).
Burns, meanwhile, sparked a six-run third inning for Andrew with a two-run double to the gap in right-center field.
“The guy before me got hit by a pitch so I thought he would throw me a first-pitch fastball,” Burns said. “He did, I was ready for it and I put my best swing on it.
“It really fired up me and a lot of the guys in the dugout.”
Hitting in the fifth spot in the order, Burns has been a consistent run producer for the Thunderbolts.
Andrew coach Dave DeHaan knows he can count on Burns to deliver in big situations.
“Between football and baseball, he’s played in a lot of big games,” DeHaan said. “Guys like Ryan and TJ Burke have been through it all with football and baseball and have worked hard.
” I just want them to enjoy it because it’s going fast.”
That reality is something Burns has done his best to block out.
“I’m trying to ignore it for now,” Burns said. “Once the last game happens then I’ll embrace that.
“Last year, we won a regional and it was one of the best experiences playing baseball in my life, so I’m just very excited for this chance to try to make another run.”
Andrew won its first 10 regular-season games and 15 of its first 17 this spring before struggling a bit in late April and early May. Thursday’s win was the Thunderbolts’ fifth in a row, and Reilly is confident things are back on track.
“We’re flowing,” Reilly said. “We’re working as one team right now, which is what we need. We were a little off for a stretch, but we’ve found our groove and we’re going with the flow.”
Burns is one of the seniors setting the tone. His football experience certainly helps with that.
“Playing football taught me a lot of leadership, which I carried on to baseball,” Burns said. “Playing two sports taught me a lot of hard work and time management, being able to control two sports at a time, especially over the summer.
“I think playing both sports is the best decision that I’ve made.”
