Chris McCormack had the perfect backdrop for his debut Tuesday as a starting pitcher for Naperville Central. It was all there right in front of him.
The junior right-hander had the luxury of studying the hitters Monday afternoon during the Redhawks’ series opener against crosstown rival Naperville North.
“I was in the booth,” McCormack said. “Just taking mental notes about what each batter is doing, where they are putting the ball and what they like to hit.”
McCormack also proved to be the perfect student. He stuck out seven and scattered just three hits in six innings for the Redhawks in a 3-0 DuPage Valley Conference victory.
It was the third straight win for Naperville Central (12-4, 4-4).
Most impressively, McCormack showed no signs of nerves or pressure going up against his team’s biggest opponent.
“I was just having fun out there,” he said. “My teammates made it easy for me. Even when it wasn’t hit directly to one of our guys, they always made it to the ball.”
McCormack outdueled junior Tyler Vorwick, who lost despite throwing a no-hitter in 5 1/3 innings for Naperville North (9-5, 5-3).
Still, McCormack was even better.
“We had some struggles coming out of the gate last week,” Naperville Central coach Mike Stock said. “We knew he was ready to start.
“He has a fastball, a change-up and a curveball he throws for strikes. I thought his best pitch was the high strike.”
McCormack (1-0) also had an apprenticeship that put him in position to excel. As a prelude to his first start, he made multiple appearances in relief for the Redhawks.
Starting, however, is a different dynamic. It’s the ultimate blank slate.
“Out of the bullpen, you face a lot of pressure,” McCormack said. “It was easier to come out and just have a fresh start every single inning.”
Junior catcher Colin Barczi, meanwhile, broke the game open for Naperville Central with an RBI double in the seventh inning.
McCormack credited his catcher’s cool and steady handling behind the plate as another perfect gateway to his first start.
“Pitching is all a mind game,” he said. “Our catcher is really good at what he does. He makes it very easy for me, knowing where I have to throw, making a good spot.”
Vorwick (1-2) was virtually untouchable until he experienced control issues in the sixth. He had five strikeouts.
Vorwick did issue seven walks, including a free pass for an RBI to junior right fielder Nathan Wyllie with the bases loaded.
“I had to trust my teammates,” Vorwick said. “They made all the plays I needed them to make. They gave me the confidence to throw one of the best games I’ve thrown in a long time.”
His pitch count reached 106 after the walk to Wyllie.
Despite stiff winds blowing out to right-center that favored the hitters, Vorwick nullified Naperville Central’s imposing lineup.
The game illustrated the almost cooperative aspect of the rivalry. Players on both teams grew up playing together in local travel programs.
That familiarity deepened the intensity of play and heightened the most consequential actions.
“It was definitely scary going up against hitters like that,” Vorwick said. “I wasn’t trying to work around them too much, not give them much to hit, and they just missed a lot.”
Fittingly, McCormack got the best of Vorwick as a batter with two runners in scoring position and two outs in the bottom of the fourth.
He coaxed a groundout to end the Huskies’ best scoring chance.
“Even when things get tough, you always have to compete,” McCormack said.
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter the Naperville Sun.