High school baseball: With 2 D-I hurlers gone, McHenry pitchers filling in nicely

When Huntley closed out an IHSA Class 4A sectional semifinal victory over McHenry last June, it marked the end for the Warriors’ Division I pitching duo. Starting pitchers Bobby Miller and Michael Lasiewicz headed their separate ways after the season – Miller to Louisville, Lasiewicz to Northern Illinois.

They left behind a McHenry pitching staff without its top two horses. The Warriors, however, are doing just fine without them.

Through nine games, McHenry pitchers have posted a team earned run average of 0.94 and have the Warriors off to a 7-2 start, including a 6-0 win over defending Class 4A state champion Crystal Lake South on Monday to open Fox Valley Conference play.

“All of our guys have been throwing strikes,” coach Brian Rockweiler said. “Our team ERA is under one right now after nine games. That’s not bad.”

Miller and Lasiewicz combined for more than 110 innings pitched last year. Miller posted a 0.83 ERA with 93 strikeouts in 59 innings, while Lasiewicz had a 2.17 ERA with 67 strikeouts in 512/3 innings. Both already have made an impact on their respective college teams.

Rockweiler knew his program had a solid group of pitchers returning.

“We still had a lot of guys coming back that threw pretty meaningful innings besides those two,” Rockweiler said. “Nobody has really heard of them; they don’t light up a radar gun, but they throw strikes and hit spots.”

Junior Joe Kaminski has been the No. 1 starter early on. Kaminski has yet to allow an earned run in 92/3 innings pitched. He has 22 strikeouts to six walks.

Senior relief pitcher Dylan Honkala said Kaminski has stepped up and noted that the junior does “pretty much everything” well.

“He attacks you quick, early in the count,” Honkala said.

Honkala pitched 292/3 innings last season, primarily serving as a relief pitcher. The right-hander, who will play at McHenry County College next year, once again is coming out of the bullpen, and has yet to allow an earned run in 11 innings pitched.

Honkala has added some sidearm and submarine looks to his repertoire.

“I throw both [fastball and slider] over the top, to the side and submarine,” Honkala said. “I’ve been playing around with it all winter.”

Honkala has struck out 19 batters and walked two so far. Monday’s starting pitcher, senior Garrett Gillund, enjoys having someone like Honkala in the bullpen.

“He’s just a workhorse,” Gillund said. “Every game you know he’s going to come out and throw strikes, do what he needs to do. He’s dominant up there. Nothing fazes him. He’s pumped the day before the game.”

Gillund noted other teammates who have thrown solid innings so far this year: seniors Chase Grasso and Owen Patzin, as well as junior Sean Richards.

Rockweiler said senior Nick Morris is the No. 2 starter, although a hamstring injury has limited him to only one start.

“We lost a few guys [from last year],” Honkala said. “But that just opens up room for some guys who can go out and prove themselves, make a name for themselves.”

The bats have been solid, too, for McHenry, averaging 6.4 runs a game. The defense, however, has committed 16 errors in nine games.

It’s early yet, and things can change, but the McHenry pitching staff is off to a solid start.

“Everyone knows that we lost two studs in Bobby and Las,” Gillund said. “This year, a lot of people have stepped up. A lot of new pitchers are stepping up. It’s really exciting to see everyone jell.

“We just knew that we had a solid group of guys. We knew we had to step up and fill those shoes. I think our team is doing really well.”