Baseball

Team Information

Cut/No-Cut Sport? Cut sport
Levels: Varsity / Junior Varsity / Freshman-Sophomore / Freshman
Start Date: February 26, 2024
Varsity Head Coach: Nick Skala
Varsity Assistant Coaches: Ryan Whitcomb, Joe Skala, JP Kulick, Ryan Jensen, Jacob Rosenkranz
JV Head Coach: Eric Egmer
JV Assistant: Matt Sorkin
Frosh/Soph Head Coach: Brad Sorkin
Frosh/Soph Assistant Coach: Bob Taylor
Freshman Head Coach: Cody Mathias
Freshman Assistant Coach: Kirby Smith, Bryan Anderson

Helpful Links:

• SHS Baseball Handbook
• 4-Year Plan to College Baseball

Varsity Schedule
JV Schedule
Frosh-Soph Schedule
Frosh Schedule

Schedule

Tryout Information

*For the most up-to-date tryout information, click here.

Informational Meeting

• Wednesday, Feb. 7 | 4pm
• Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/94694214226

Tryout Date

• Monday, Feb. 26, 2023

  • Freshman -- 3:30 - 6 p.m. @ Fieldhouse

  • Sophomore -- 6 - 8 p.m. @ Fieldhouse

  • Jr/Sr -- 8 - 10 p.m. @ Fieldhouse
     

• Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2023

  • Freshman -- 3:30 - 5 p.m. @Fieldhouse (Pitchers/Catchers only), 6:30 - 8 p.m. @ Gorilla Athletic

  • Sophomore -- 3:30 - 5 p.m. @ Fieldhouse (Pitchers/Catchers only), 5 - 6:30 p.m. @ Gorilla Athletic

  • Jr/Sr -- 4 - 5 p.m. @ Gorilla Athletic, 6 - 7:30 p.m. @ Fieldhouse
     

• Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2023

  • Freshman -- 3:30 - 6 p.m. @ Fieldhouse

  • Sophomore -- 6 - 8 p.m. @ Fieldhouse

  • Jr/Sr -- 8 - 10 p.m. @ Fieldhouse

Important Notes:

• Players may be asked to tryout at different times at coaches discretion
• Cuts will be made on 3/1
• All Program Meeting will take place on Friday, Feb. 29 at 3:45 p.m. in the Fieldhouse

Registration

• Every athlete is required to register before they can participate in a tryout.

Head Coach Bio

Nick Skala

5^th Season
nskala@d125.org

Nick Skala was named head baseball coach in August 2018. He had been a member of the varsity coaching staff for four seasons prior to his promotion, serving as lead pitching coach. Prior to joining the SHS staff, Skala coached for one year at his college alma mater, Concordia University Chicago in River Forest. 

Skala was one of the top players in Concordia history. He was named Northern Atlantic Conference Player of the Year in 2011 after leading the Cougars to a 20-2 league record and the regular season championship. During the 2011 season, Skala set the school’s single-season record for runs batted in (63) and led the Cougars to a 35-10 overall record. In the same year, he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 37th round of the Major League Baseball draft. 

His .416 batting average in 2010 is the seventh-highest in school annals, and his three-year career average of .373 ranks fifth all-time. During his three years, Concordia posted a record of 99-33, and qualified for the NCAA Tournament his senior season.
 

Records and History

Team Championships

IHSA State Finals
2010 (3rd in state)

Year	Overall	Conference	Head Coach	Achievements
2023	30-10	11-3	Nick Skala	Class 4A Sectional Champion Class 4A Regional Chamion
2022	26-10		Nick Skala
2021	15-13-1		Nick Skala
2020				No season
2019	23-10		Nick Skala
2018	22-14-1		Pat Block
2017	18-14		Pat Block
2016	24-10-1		Pat Block	NSC Lake Division Champion
2015	27-12-1		Paul Mazzuca	Class 4A Sectional Champion Class 4A Regional Champion
2014	14-16		Paul Mazzuca
2013	21-12		Paul Mazzuca	Class 4A Regional Champion
2012	23-14		Paul Mazzuca	Class 4A Regional Champion
2011	26-5		Paul Mazzuca
2010	35-4		Paul Mazzuca	Class 4A - Third Place in State Class 4A Supersectional Champion Class 4A Sectional Champion Class 4A Regional Champion
2009	29-7		Paul Mazzuca	Class 4A Regional Champion
2008	15-16		Paul Mazzuca
2007	25-10		Bob Mackey
2006	28-7		Bob Mackey	Class AA Regional Champion
2005	27-11-2		Bob Mackey	Class AA Sectional Champion Class AA Regional Champion
2004	23-13		Bob Mackey
2003	25-9	15-2	Bob Mackey	Class AA Regional Champion NSC Champion
2002	28-6	16-1	Bob Mackey	NSC Champion
2001	29-9	11-5	Bob Mackey	Class AA Regional Champion
2000	26-11	7-7	Bob Mackey	Class AA Regional Champion
1999	25-11	12-2	Bob Mackey	NSC Champion
1998	22-17	7-7	Bob Mackey	Class AA Regional Champion
1997	30-8	13-3	Bob Mackey	Class AA Regional Champion
1996	30-5	13-3	Bob Mackey
1995	26-9	13-3	Bob Mackey	IHSBCA Summer State Champion
1994	25-10	12-4	Bob Mackey	NSC Champion
1993	28-8	12-4	Bob Mackey	Class AA Regional Champion
1992	24-12	9-7	Bob Mackey
1991	23-12	12-6	Bob Mackey
1990	21-11	13-5	Bob Mackey
1989	25-9	17-1	Bob Mackey	NSC Champion
1988	26-7	15-3	Bob Mackey	NSC Champion
1987	30-5	14-4	Bob Mackey	Class AA Regional Champion
1986	29-6	15-3	Bob Mackey	NSC Champion
1985	16-14	12-6	Bob Mackey
1984	13-17	9-9	Bob Mackey
1983	18-6	12-2	Bob Mackey	NSC Champion
1982	17-10	9-5	Bob Mackey
1981	7-20	5-9	Bob Mackey
1980	9-16	6-8	Bob Mackey
1979	15-10	9-5	Bob Mackey
1978	11-13	7-7	Bob Mackey
1977	10-11		Paul Swan
1976	9-12		Paul Swan
1975	10-9		Paul Swan
1974	9-11		Paul Swan
1973	4-6		Paul Swan
1972	2-8		Paul Swan
1971	3-7		Paul Swan
ALL TIME	987-496-5 (.665)

Coaching Records

Name	Seasons	Record
Paul Swan	7	47-64
Bob Mackey	30	681-312-2
Paul Mazzuca	8	190-86-1
Patrick Block	3	64-42-2
Nick Skala	4	94-43-1

Patriots in the Pros

SHS Baseball Players Selected in the Major League Baseball Draft
Patriots who reached the majors listed in bold

Name	Position(s)	Year	Round (Overall)	Team	College Attended
Joe Bonadonna	2B-3B	2009	43 (1294)	Texas	Illinois
Scott Firth	P	2009  2012  2013	36 (1076)  32 (998)  19 (559)	Baltimore  Philadelphia  Colorado	Drafted out of HS  Clemson  Clemson
Kevin Frederick	P	1997  1998	17 (513)  34 (1009)	Minnesota   Minnesota	Creighton  Creighton
Mark Ledinsky	P-OF	1990  1991	29 (790)  49 (1272)	California  California	College of Lake  County  Jacksonville
Henry Marchese	OF	2017	34 (1008)	San Diego	Drafted out of HS
Mike Martin	OF-IF	2015	33 (998)	Oakland	Harvard
Tim Morley	P	2001	17 (504)	Pittsburgh	Wake Forest  Drafted out of HS
Chris Piggott	OF	1992	35 (990)	Minnesota	Creighton  Drafted out of HS
Kyle Ruchim	IF	2014	39 (1185)	St. Louis	Northwestern
Jon Savarise	P	2012	33 (1011)	Chicago (A)	Northern Illinois   Drafted out of HS
Grady Symonds	C	2002	39 (1179)	Arizona	Hawaii/Triton
Adam Walton	IF	2015	20 (613)	Baltimore	Illinois

 

Patriots in College Baseball

The following players continued their careers at the collegiate level. Players in bold were selected in the Major League Baseball draft.

Name	College(s)
Adam Walton	University of Illinois
Andrew Meister	Saint Louis University
Anthony Cozzi	Cornell College
Austin Black	Harvard University
Benji Ries	Le Moyne College
Blake Fiedelman	South Dakota State University
Boomer Whipple	Vanderbilt University
Brad Sorkin	Illinois State University
Brandon Frankel	Ohio Weslyan University
Brandon Meister	Miami University
Brian Jabeck	Valparaiso University
Brian Shust	Wake Forest University
Casey Kedzierski	College of Lake County
Charlie Bourbon	Northwestern University
Chris Piggott	Creighton University
Craig Robertshaw	Purdue University
Daniel Bryant	Dartmouth College
Daniel Lubelfeld	Grinnell College
Darren Nasatir	Michigan State University
David Brand	University of Iowa
Grady Symonds	University of Hawaii/Triton College
Hayden Brotz	University of Chicago
Ike Greenspon	Stetson University/University of Illinois
Jack Jonota	Lincoln Trail College
Jacob Rosenkranz	Valparaiso University
Jake Freed	Oberlin College
Jim Bose	Cornell College
Joe Bonadonna	University of Illinois
John Ofstun	University of Nebraska
John Surane	University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
John Wagner	Trinity International University
Jon Savarise	Northern Illinois University
Jordan Sheinkop	George Washington University
Keith Hood	Creighton University
Kevin Frederick	Creighton University
Kyle Ruchim	Northwestern University
Mark Ledinsky	College of Lake County/Jacksonville University
Matt Allen	University of Iowa
Matt Robin	Ohio University
Michael D’Angelo	University of St. Thomas
Michael Hussey	Butler University
Mike Martin	Harvard University
Mike Swidler	Missouri Southern State College
Pat Wilson	University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee/College of Lake County
Patrick Block	Cornell College
Patrick Loeffler	Indiana University
Paul Ackerman	Princeton University
Peter Ogilvie	University of Notre Dame
Ray Ledinsky	Illinois State University
Ryan Rosenberg	Cornell College
Scott Firth	Clemson University
Steve Lemke	Eastern Illinois University
Ted Ogilvie	Creighton University
Teddy Heiser	Erskine College
Tim Morley	Wake Forest University
Todd Reichert	Cornell College
Tony Heiser	Loras College
Tyler Radtke	Villanova University/University of Iowa
Willie Bourbon	Northwestern University
Zach Fell	University of Indianapolis
Zach Taylor	University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh