Sandburg connects by picking ‘Morso’

Updated: August 16, 2011 3:18PM

He bided his time, patiently waiting his opportunity to guide the baseball program for which he once had played.

Many people in a similar situation might not have exhibited such patience and loyalty, choosing instead to apply for every varsity coaching vacancy in the area.

Not Jim Morsovillo.

No way he was going to trade in blue and gold for another school’s colors. He’s an Eagle through and through.

After spending 11 years coaching Sandburg’s sophomores and one year as varsity assistant, Morsovillo finally received the gig he’s dreamed of for years: succeeding longtime Eagle coach Doug Sutor, who retired after the 2011 season.

“It’s been a long process in my coaching career,” said Morsovillo, 37, a married father of two boys, Matthew and Nick. “I’ve been very happy with my role as sophomore coach and see the kids develop from their freshman year and help them progress to the varsity.

“But when I was told I was the guy, it was a day I was hoping would come for a long time.”

While that day took longer than expected this summer, it did arrive.

Morsovillo was a hard-nosed player at Sandburg, earning All-Area honors his senior season in 1992. He gladly would sacrifice personal glory for the benefit of the team at the drop of a hat.

Break up a double play? Move a runner over? Provide a pat on the back to a teammate for a job well done? “Morso” was a team guy all the way.

But he also was a darn good player who enjoyed a fine career at Western Illinois University. He was a slick shortstop who could also handle the bat. Most important, “Morso” was the type of kid who wanted the ball hit to him in clutch situations and yearned to be at the plate with the game on the line.

Those attributes will serve the Sandburg program well.

“I often used Jim as an example to our kids through the years,” said Sutor, who won his 500th game during his 23rd and final season. “Just how hard Jim worked every day during the offseason as a player. ... He put in the time and effort and his attitude was right. I always appreciated the fact he gave whatever he had as a player and always got his uniform dirty. I often looked at him like he was one of my sons.

“I’m happy for him. He’ll do things right and treat kids well. It’s nice seeing a Sandburg guy take over the tradition.”

It certainly is. As far as baseball programs go, Sandburg is one of the most desirable in the state. The District 230 administration has showed a pattern of hiring from within — at times to a fault and on the cheap. In this instance, the promotion was a home run.

Sutor left big shoes to fill, for sure. He had his teams playing at optimum level come playoff time. Prior to hopping on his Harley-Davidson and riding into retirement, Sutor had led the Eagles to 11 consecutive regional titles and a state title in 2002.

“Following the success Doug had, of course there is going to be pressure to keep it going,” said Morsovillo, who coached at Shepard for one season. “Much of what he did I’m not going to change. School and family will still come first, then baseball, hard work and discipline. I’m a believer that winning games is getting the kids prepared and let them know what’s expected of them.”

“Morso” expects to make some signature changes to the program. He’s just not sure if that will entail altering the team’s uniforms or its offseason conditioning rituals.

“In the next month I’m going to look at everything in the entire program, from the coaches to the uniforms to the hats,” he said. “I have some ideas, but there won’t be any wholesale changes.”

The one change I, along with legions of Sandburg fans and players, would love to see is scheduling some of the more prolific private schools.

Later in his career, Sutor pretty much refused to schedule St. Rita, Brother Rice, St. Laurence and Mount Carmel. Those schools attract students from the Orland Park area, and Sutor believed a loss to any would not benefit the Eagles.

My assertion was that the kids who attend area private grade schools generally were going to choose a private high school. A win or loss to any of those schools had no impact on the decision-making process.

And Sandburg playing those schools was better for high school baseball.

“I haven’t put much thought into it,” Morsovillo said. “Our conference schedule is competitive, and we don’t play a cupcake schedule. Right now, I’d say we’ll keep it the way it is for the most part. But there’s room to change in the future.”

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