Andrew’s Ben Westin took the mound with some extra excitement, knowing he was going to face off against friends who are teammates during other times of the year but opponents in the spring.
Westin certainly got the best of his buddies this time, but he promised to keep things cordial. Smack talk? He’s not about that.
“It’s bragging rights, for sure, but no talking,” Westin said. “I know a lot of those kids. I play travel ball with some of them. It was just fun to play against them and shut them down.”
Westin was the dominant force in Friday’s crosstown rivalry game. The senior right-hander threw a complete-game shutout, striking out six and allowing just five hits to lead host Andrew to a 4-0 nonconference win over Tinley Park.
Westin also produced an RBI single, while Augustana recruit JT Iles came through with a two-run double for the Thunderbolts (9-11), who with the win retained the Zabrocki Cup — the traveling trophy for the rivalry. Tyler Ipema finished 2-for-3.
Josh Aggen went 2-for-3 for Tinley Park (12-8), while Michael Kerrigan threw six solid innings, allowing four earned runs on four hits.
Aggen was just about the only Titan to figure out Westin, who remained in control throughout.
“Ben’s got incredible stuff,” Iles said of Westin. “He’s got an upper-80s fastball and a great curveball. I knew he was going to go out there and challenge them.
“We were just having fun out there watching him.”
Westin knew he would have to take on a big role on Andrew’s pitching staff this season, especially after an injury to Wisconsin-Whitewater recruit Caden Kendall.
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“I also play summer ball with Caden, too,” Westin said. “I knew without him pitching for us that I really had to step up and do good things for my team.”
Andrew coach Dave DeHaan has seen Westin do exactly that. Westin improved to 3-2 with a 1.95 ERA.
“Ben has stepped up,” DeHaan said. “Everyone has to step up without Caden and our pitchers are doing a great job. We just need to be more consistent with the bats.
“But Ben really did a great job in this game. He worked ahead of hitters and got into a good groove.”
And he even provided his own run support, ripping an RBI single to get things rolling in a four-run second inning that accounted for all of the game’s scoring.
“It was awesome just to put the first run up,” Westin said. “Everyone started going crazy. I love hitting.”
Iles had the big blow of the inning with a two-run double down the left field line.
“I know Michael Kerrigan, the pitcher, so it was fun getting a double against him,” Iles said. “He’s a good pitcher.”
Just not quite as good as Westin was Friday.
Westin has focused on baseball the last two years after playing basketball as a freshman and football his first two years of high school.
Ironically, the new baseball field he calls home played a part in a freak accident that solidified his decision to zone in on one sport.
“They were doing construction on the stadium and there were metal stakes,” Westin said. “We were practicing football behind the stadium and I dove and my arm went into one of the stakes. I had to get 19 stitches in my forearm. I was just done.”
That put Westin all-in on baseball. But long before that, he developed a special connection with the sport.
“My parents signed me up for T-ball when I was 3 years old and I never stopped,” he said. “The first time I played, I just knew it was the sport for me.
“I just love throwing the ball.”