Richards avoids any growing pains

Updated: April 27, 2011 7:39PM

When a varsity baseball team heavily relies on its junior class to carry the load, growing pains generally occur.

More times than not, the stub-your-toe moments are caused by wet-behind-the-ears players who have difficulty adapting to the overall speed of varsity competition.

It’s a big jump from the sophomores to varsity. Pitchers throw harder, the baseball jumps off the hitter’s bat quicker, runners circle the bases faster.

There are, however, those teams that round the learning curve much quicker than anticipated.

Take this year’s Richards squad.

With seven juniors in the lineup on most days, the Bulldogs were expected to start the season slowly, then gradually improve.

You know, take baby steps.

Coach Brian Wujcik’s club, however, has adapted at the pace of an Aroldis Chapman fastball.

At 14-4, including handing No. 3 Mount Carmel its only loss of the season, Richards ranks among the area’s best teams.

The Bulldogs have won nine in a row and this week cracked the SouthtownStar Top 10 for the first time this season.

“We knew the juniors were good. They were 22-9 as sophomores,” said Wujcik, whose Bulldogs are ranked eighth. “We just weren’t too sure they would be able to adjust so quickly to the varsity level. I thought we’d suffer some growing pains and be better at the end of the season.”

As good as the Bulldogs are playing, they’ve yet to reach the pinnacle. The prospect should concern future opponents.

The junior class, led by outfielder Jim Augle, is only going to get better. Augle, a left-handed stick and Division I prospect, is as good a pure hitter as any in the area,

The Bulldogs have also benefited from the free-agency route. Two other juniors, Jake Beiriger and Lou Castro, transferred from area private schools and have flourished in Bulldogs Country.

Beiriger came over from Mount Carmel and is hitting above .400. He’s also thrived with the glove — he and shortstop Joe Lyons have turned 18 double plays in 18 games.

Castro was cut from Marist’s sophomore team. One program’s scrap is another’s gold. Wujcik found a place for Castro, who’s responded with six doubles and 15 RBI thus far.

“We don’t have a problem with kids who transfer in from the private schools,” Wujcik said. “We’ll take them and find a place for them.”

Where juniors generally struggle the most is on the mound. You can get away with “throwing” on the sophomore level. On the varsity, you have to “pitch.”

Senior Carlos Rodriguez, at 3-0 with two saves, is the ace of the staff. However, juniors Jon Danielson, Jordan Julian and Tyler Mastalerz have pitched like aces in their own right.

The trio is 8-1. Julian also has been a force at the plate and led the team in hitting for most of the season.

That is, until Augle found his groove.

“Carlos is our No. 1 but we have a real nice nucleus with Danielson, Julian and Mastalerz,” Wujcik said. “It’s like having a 1A, 1B and 1C. We’ve just got to keep everybody healthy.”

As much as the juniors have carried the load, no way Richards is sitting 10 games above the break-even mark without seniors Dan Kenealy and Lyons.

Kenealy is providing outstanding defense in center field and clutch hitting. Lyons, who just signed with Roosevelt University, has made a smooth transition to shortstop after playing third base last season and the outfield as a sophomore.

“Joe has been so versatile,” Wujcik said. “Danny has come through with some big hits for us. Those guys have been with me since their sophomore year.”

And let’s not minimize the impact of Wujcik, a sparkling 378-267 in 19 years. A former Big Ten batting champion at Iowa, he’s made the program among the best in the area.

A 1986 graduate of Richards, Wujcik’s Bulldogs pride shows in the way he demands his kids play the game and how he’s spent his own time and effort transforming the Bulldogs’ once haggard field into a treasure.

Ten of his teams have won at least 20 games, with an 11th sure to follow this season.

And while Richards has won its fair share of conference and regional titles, a sectional championship has eluded the Bulldogs.

Maybe this will be the year.

“You never know,” Wujcik said. “If we continue to improve like we think we will, I think we’ll be where we want to be come playoffs.”

And with 13 juniors on the roster, the sophomore team leading the conference and the frosh squad 9-1, Richards should be where it wants to be for a while.

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