Joliet Catholic signings: Baseball, volleyball players pick colleges

Updated: November 9, 2011 7:39PM

While Joliet Catholic left-handed pitcher Kevin Duchene mowed down the opposition with regularity in the spring, infielder Adam Collins watched.

Collins was recovering from a stress fracture in the vertebrae in his back and sat out most of the spring season.

But Wednesday, on National Letter of Intent Signing Day, Collins shared the spotlight with Duchene and three members of the Joliet Catholic girls volleyball team: Kelly Feigh, Lauren Robertson and Gianna Lincoln. All five signed with the colleges of their choice.

Collins, a defensive back who intercepted two passes in Friday’s 41-7 Hilltoppers football victory over Morris, will play at Central Michigan University. Duchene, always an Illinois fan, will have the opportunity to pitch in the Big Ten Conference for the Illini.

Feigh signed with Loyola, Robertson with Evansville and Lincoln with Quincy.

“I committed (to Central Michigan) pretty early,” Collins said. “It was a great opportunity; I couldn’t pass it up.”

“It was unfortunate Adam did not have a chance to compete with us much last season as a junior,” Hilltoppers baseball coach Jared Voss said. “But he did a great job in the summer.

“They talk about kids with five-tool ability, and he is one of them. He is a good defensive player, has a strong arm, speed, hits for average and for power.”

Duchene went 8-1 last season. In 52 innings, he struck out 71 and walked 14. He will be joined in college by Lemont left-hander Tyler Jay, who also signed Wednesday with Illinois. Former Lemont right-hander Josh Ferry is an Illini freshman.

“The thing about Kevin is every time he goes out there, he is physically and emotionally ready to compete,” Voss said. “He will be a captain next season.

“This is the first time since 2005 that we have had a pitcher sign with a D-I school and it has been six years since we had two D-I players. So that’s a good sign for our program.”

“Illinois is a good situation for me,” said Duchene, who plans to major in communications, advertising or marketing. “They don’t have a lot of lefties in the program right now. I think I’ll have an opportunity to succeed going in.”

The Angels volleyball players, meanwhile, were unanimous in their feelings. While disappointed their season ended in a loss to Wheaton St. Francis in the sectional final, they have positive memories, including state championships in 2008 and ’09 and a runner-up finish in ’10.

“It was kind of a bittersweet thing,” said Feigh, who said she will major in biology or psychology at Loyola. “The day we lost (to St. Francis) is the day I got my acceptance from Loyola. I love the city (Chicago) and I really like campus and coaches there.”

“Kelly battled through some injuries this year after she led us in kills last year,” Angels coach Christine Scheibe noted. “She was captain this year and she always gave it her best.”

Scheibe called Robertson “a leader on and off the court.”

“My good friend (and former Joliet Catholic standout) Jenn Murphy is playing there, it’s close to home and I like the campus,” Robertson said of choosing Evansville, where she plans to major in physical therapy. “It was a bummer to finish this year like we did, but it’s been a good four years.”

Lincoln said what she will take with her to Quincy is “the way our team here is like family. We play so well together and we’re all faith-oriented. Quincy is that way and is kind of small. It will almost be like continuing playing here.”

Scheibe said Lincoln is “the epitome of going after something if you want it. She was cut her junior year, and she worked her butt off in the offseason to get back. Her skills and attitude were really improved this year.”

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