Luke Mensik has always been the little brother in a dynamic baseball duo he’s formed with his brother, Landon.
Landon, who graduated last year from Lincoln-Way Central, is now playing at Xavier. Luke is set to join him there next year.
For now, however, Luke is enjoying the perspective that has developed in his one season without his sibling by his side.
“It’s 100% a different feeling,” Mensik said. “I always grew up playing on Landon’s teams. I was always in his shadow a little bit. I was always with his friends and stuff like that.
“I love playing with him and that’s why I’m going to play with him next year, but having this year without him, it’s also cool to have the spotlight to myself a little bit.”
That spotlight has never shined brighter on Luke than it did Saturday.
The senior right-hander was brilliant, tossing a one-hitter and striking out eight to lift the Knights to a 1-0 win over the host Thunderbolts in the Class 4A Andrew Regional championship game in Tinley Park.
Luke Tingley went 3-for-3 for fourth-seeded Lincoln-Way Central (21-10). Conor McCabe singled and scored the lone run, while Toledo recruit Liam Arsich added a single and a walk.
The Knights, who won their second straight regional title, will take on top-seeded Lincoln-Way East (27-10) at 4 p.m. Wednesday in a Lincoln-Way West Sectional semifinal in New Lenox.
Caden Kendall threw six strong innings for fifth-seeded Andrew (25-12), striking out five and allowing only an unearned run on six hits.
“I used to work out with him a little bit,” Mensik said of Kendall. “I’m really just happy for him to be a junior and throw that great of a game at this time of the year. He’s going places.
“It’s fun being in a pitching battle like that. I’m always just trying to outduel the other guy, and in the end, that’s what I did.”
Caden Kendall’s twin brother, Nolan, had the only hit for the Thunderbolts on a bunt single.
Mensik faced the minimum 21 batters. Nolan Kendall’s single was followed by a double play. Andrew’s only other base runner came on an error and was erased by a caught stealing.
Senior catcher Cade Andrews saw Mensik in total control all day.
“It was awesome,” Andrews said. “Everything I called, he was able to put it in the zone. When you do that, you’re going to give your defense opportunities or just strike them out. He was unreal.”
The Knights got the only run they would need in the fourth inning. Tingley came up with runners at first and second and two outs and produced an infield single.
An error on the play allowed McCabe to come home.
“I was just sticking with my approach and trying to drive it to the opposite field,” Tingley said. “I was just trying to do whatever I can to get the run in, do my job and help the team.”
Mensik did the rest, improving to 3-2 with a 0.66 ERA. He’s allowed only four runs over 42 1/3 innings.
Lincoln-Way Central coach Ryan Kutt always has faith in his ace.
“Luke’s been a leader for us for quite some time now,” Kutt said. “We leaned on him last year. We even leaned on him as a sophomore. But for him to have the ability to come out there in the seventh inning, up 1-0 in a game like this and be lights out says everything about him.
“He deserves it and I’m just happy for him.”
Mensik has taken that leadership role more seriously this year. And he feels his biggest improvement has been in attitude.
“In past years, I let emotions get the best of me,” Mensik said. “This year, I just hunkered down on throwing strikes, letting my defense help me and staying even keeled the whole time instead of riding the highs and lows.”
