Photo By Aidan McGuire
Cyclones pitcher/catcher Gilberto Hernandez goes up to bat in front of Skyhawks catcher Drew Woolley.
By Aidan McGuire, News Editor
Moraine’s baseball team has proven to be a team of resilience this season.
Despite a rocky start, which included a losing streak of 12 games, the Cyclones managed to secure a spot in the playoffs and be in the top 12 teams. However, they didn’t keep that spot very long.
“We started off the season real slow,” said head coach Mike Kane. “Especially earlier in the season, I was like, ‘What’s going on here? This is crazy.'”
Kane returned to the Moraine field this season after coaching for the team from 2014-2016. As the season progressed, the Cyclones’ defense got stronger, and the team improved overall.
“Our first three wins were against really good teams,” Kane said. “Seeing other guys step up was really good to see. Daniel Rosado was the leader of the team.”
A major turning point for the team happened earlier this month during Sophomore Day, when the Cyclones won both games against Morton College.
“Winning doubleheaders is always pretty fun,” said Kane. He says that “no matter who’s playing who, you always split” doubleheaders, with one team winning the first and the other winning the second. So winning two in a row was a welcome surprise.
Entering the playoffs in 11th place out of 12, the Cyclones were originally supposed to play Friday but the playoff games were postponed due to rainy weather.
You just kind of hope you have more ups than downs. This is the crazy thing about baseball”
MV baseball head coach Mike Kane
The games were rescheduled for Saturday at McHenry County College at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. against Morton College and McHenry County College. The Cyclones lost both games 4-1, and 8-0.
“We didn’t hit very well in the playoffs,” admitted Kane. “Things like that give me gray hair,” he said. “You lay awake at night, thinking, ‘What are we missing?'”
Despite the challenges, the Cyclones are staying positive and are already looking to the next season. Kane said he thinks the teams hitting will come around next year.
Kane and his assistant coaches have spent a large portion of this season focusing on building a strong team for the fall: “We’re recruiting pretty heavy for next year. We’re losing 10, if I’m not mistaken. We’re looking for a couple of left-handed pitchers.”
To focus on recruiting, Kane and assistant coaches watch local games in the area. Assistants include TJ Walton and pitching coach Nick Chigas.
“Every day that we weren’t playing, myself and the other three coaches would see a high school game,” Kane said. He said that’s led to phone calls from friends saying they’ve got a “nephew that plays at Reavis or Oak Lawn or Richards or wherever.”
Kane is glad to be back at Moraine doing what he enjoys.
“I love being back,” he said. “It’s kind of funny. When I was not coaching, I would stop by and watch games.”
The Cyclones are looking for players for next year, and Kane said the team likely will hold tryouts open to anyone.
Despite the ups and downs of the season, Kane remained optimistic for the future: “You just kind of hope you have more ups than downs. This is the crazy thing about baseball.”
