Caravan keen on eliminating mistakes

Updated: June 9, 2011 7:20PM

Mount Carmel coach Brian Hurry doesn’t know much about Lyons Township, Friday’s Class 4A state semifinal foe.

And the 12-year veteran coach wasn’t particularly in a rush to chase down a scouting report.

“They’re a solid team, a veteran team,” Hurry said of Lyons. “They have good pitching, good offense. But I’m more concerned about my team and focused on what we have to do.”

Like being mentally and physically ready each and every pitch. The Caravan had a miscommunication issue on a double play ball and a player missed a key sign from Hurry during Monday’s 9-7 supersectional victory over Lincoln-Way East.

Mount Carmel (34-7) was able to overcome those mistakes against East.

Similar lapses could be the difference between victory and defeat against Lyons (35-4).

“Those types of mistakes at this time of the season are unacceptable,” Hurry said. “We can’t afford to have those things happen again.”

The teams have played one common foe, Oak Park-River Forest. Lyons outscored Oak Park 31-4 during three lopsided victories, including 11-0 and 14-4 slaughter-rule affairs. Mount Carmel edged Oak Park 3-2 in the sectional final.

Of Lyons’ four losses, two came against Downers Grove South. Locally, the Lions beat Sandburg (1-0) and Reavis (9-6).

Senior pitcher John Kravetz (11-3) has the task of taming an explosive Lyons offense, which boasts five players with at least 30 RBI. Brian Rodemoyer is the Lions’ big bopper, hitting .400 with 10 homers and 43 RBI. Connor Cuff (8 HRs, 35 RBI) and Keith Lehmann (7 HRs, 31 RBI) also have long-ball power.

“John’s been on the varsity three years and has pitched in some big games,” Hurry said of his ace, Kravetz. “Like I said, we don’t know much at all about them. We’re going to pitch to John’s strengths.”

Those include a good fastball with great movement and a sweeping breaking ball.

Lyons likely will counter with Cuff, a Penn recruit who is 10-0 and has struck out 90 over 62 innings.

Despite an arduous schedule, the Caravan still scored at least 10 runs on 21 occasions, so facing a pitcher the caliber of Cuff should not prove too daunting.

Sam Kint (.442, 12 HRs, 53 RBI), Chris Sujka (.388, 12 HRs, 41 RBI) and Jeff Boehm (.391, 6 HRs, 32 RBI) lead the Caravan’s attack.

“It looks like it’s going to be our best against their best,” said Hurry, referring to the pitching matchup. “We feel like we’re battle tested. We’re not content with getting to this point. We want to finish this thing.”

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