Baseball notebook

Updated: April 27, 2011 11:56AM

It’s been an up-and-down season for Lincoln-Way Central. At 9-8-1, the Knights’ record indicates as much.

That’s really not a surprise, considering the Knights start three sophomores and a freshman. Central also boasts a freshman and sophomore on its pitching staff.

“We’re young,” said Central coach Sean Bieterman, who led the Knights to a 25-10 mark in 2010. “But we feel like we can compete now, and at the same time we are building (for the future).”

Central’s young nucleus is promising. Sophomores Grant Bartell (1B/LHP), Andrew Vanderschaaf (C), Lucas Jones (CF) and Matt Mikolajczak (LHP) have bright futures. Ditto freshmen Kevin Mampe (3B) and Brad Bass (RHP).

Mikolajczak and Bass have the arsenal to develop into staff aces in the near future.

The Knights’ senior class, led by Evan Branyik (SS), Zach Miller (C), Kevin DeMatteo (OF) and Tyler Gellinger (OF), has not only performed well on the field, it’s provided valuable tutelage to the underclassmen.

Junior Matt Doherty (RHP) has provided the young pitching staff, without the benefit of a senior, with leadership.

“We do have a nice blend,” Bieterman said. “We have a good group of seniors teaching our young guys how to do things the right way.

“There have been games where we’ve been close, but we make a mistake and our inexperience shows. But we’re on the right path.”

Young guns at St. Laurence

St. Laurence is relying heavily on its senior class, but it does have a pair of outstanding underclassmen in sophomore shortstop Kevin Smith and freshman infielder Mike Kornacker.

Smith is a slick fielder with great range. Kornacker, who shifts between second base and third base and also pitches, can swing the bat.

“Our middle infield has done a great job,” St. Laurence coach Pete Lotus said. “Mike and Kevin can also pitch.”

Finding the strike zone

There’s no denying the arsenal of pitches Providence’s Matt Trowbridge possesses. The senior left-hander has a mid-to-upper 80s (mph) fastball and a hard deuce.

He can be overpowering with electric stuff. He also has a tendency to walk hitters. In 161/3 innings, he’s walked 27 — but he’s also struck out 32.

During a 7-3 win Monday over St. Laurence, the Central Michigan recruit walked nine and struck out eight in just four-plus innings.

In a 3-1 win April 9 over Benet, he walked nine and struck out 11.

Despite all the free passes, Trowbridge is 3-0 with a 2.14 ERA. If he consistently can find the strike zone, the sky’s the limit.

“I’ve told him, ‘When you’re pounding the strike zone, look how dominant you can be,’ ” Providence coach Mark Smith said. “We stress to him to get ahead of hitters, so he can set up his breaking ball.

“He’s a very, very good pitcher. He’ll turn it around.”

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