Lemont duo plan to play in Big Ten

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:28PM

A few years ago, Lemont baseball coach Joe Rodeghero had a decision to make concerning the direction he wanted the program to go.

What he decided was he would go with the best players possible, regardless of their year in school.

Now, two of his senior standouts are reaping the benefits.

Right-handed pitcher and outfielder Josh Ferry, a switch-hitter who Rodeghero said will be the regular first baseman for the Indians in the spring, and left-handed hitting shortstop Kevin Goergen recently announced their college commitments - Ferry to the University of Illinois, Goergen to Michigan State. Both plan to sign during the November signing period.

Two of Lemont's finest heading to the Big Ten.

"Those guys were in a perfect storm," Rodeghero said, thinking back a few years. "I decided then to go with the best players possible.

"Now, Josh will be my first complete four-year varsity player. Carmen (Pignatiello, an outstanding left-handed pitcher whom Rodeghero coached at Providence Catholic) came up during his freshman year."

Goergen, meanwhile, will be entering his third varsity season as the starting shortstop.

Both are well qualified to have received their collegiate offers, in Rodeghero's opinion.

"Josh is one of the top right-handers I have ever coached," he said. "His fastball is around 88-90, he throws three pitches for strikes and he is a competitor like Kai Freeman or Carmen (Pignatiello), or going back a few years, Tim Ciesla."

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Ferry finished 8-1 last season with a 0.88 ERA and a save. He struck out 86 in 65 innings. His five shutouts and 0.88 ERA were school records for a season.

Ferry also hit .377 with two homers, 31 RBI and 20 stolen bases. At Illinois, the plan is to allow him to pitch and play a position, most likely the outfield, for the first couple of years.

Becoming an Illini is a dream come true.

"Josh always wanted to go to Illinois, and he is thrilled with the opportunity," Roeghero said.

The 6-1, 170-pound Goergen hit .376 last season with 2 homers, a team-leading 10 doubles, 29 RBI and 15 stolen bases.

"Lots of schools in the Midwest were after Kevin," Rodeghero said. "I think one of the main reasons he chose Michigan State was the possibility to play there his first year. It's not always the same for a pitcher, but a position player wants opportunities to play as a freshman."

Rodeghero said Goergen's defensive ability is noteworthy.

"Kevin is one of the 2-3 best shortstops I have had in 21 years as a head coach," said Rodeghero, who coached Joliet Catholic to a state championship in 1994 and also had excellent teams at Providence. "He could be the best, although I've had some great ones.

"He's a baseball player. He has the soft hands, he anticipates, he has great mechanics and a cannon for an arm. He gets to balls a lot of shortstops don't."

Rodeghero relayed a story of Georgen in his youth.

"Kevin hurt his right arm as a kid and taught himself how to throw lefthanded," he said. "You should see how he throws lefthanded now.

"He of course went back to throwing righthanded, and if he were pitching now, he would be our No. 2 guy behind Ferry."

Ferry, the star pitcher for the Lemont team that played in the Little League World Series several years ago, and Goergen have played baseball all their lives, yet they continue to work hard at it.

"The work ethic is what separates these two," Rodeghero said. "The lefty from Georgia that beat the Lemont Little League team, Josh told me he is done playing baseball now. But it's the work ethic of Josh and his family that keeps him going.

"And, Kevin also has a great work ethic."

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