Conner Stack's leadership pays off for Brother Rice. ‘The job's not done yet.' Plus, area state baseball notes.
After serving as a captain for both the Brother Rice football and baseball teams as a senior this school year, Conner Stack is set to give up sports as he heads to Notre Dame to study finance.
If his playing days have to come to an end, Stack is thrilled that it will happen at state.
'It's awesome,' Stack said. 'There's no better way to go out. The job's not done yet.'
Stack, a senior outfielder, will lead the Crusaders (37-3) into a Class 4A semifinal game against McHenry (35-4-1) set for 7 p.m. Friday at Duly Health and Care Field in Joliet.
Stack is hitting .381 with 27 RBIs and 20 runs this spring. More importantly, according to Brother Rice coach Sean McBride, Stack sets the tone and ramps up the team's competitive energy.
'Conner brings toughness,' McBride said. 'He grinds out at-bats. He's not the prettiest-looking player, but man, he's had a heck of a year. He's a great outfielder. He does everything right. He runs the bases. He can bunt. He comes through in the clutch.
'He gives us that edge that we need.'
Stack, who played defensive back in football, tries to bring some of the grittiness of that sport to the Crusaders in baseball.
Brother Rice finished third in the state in 2022 and second in 2023 but went in the wrong direction last season, going just 20-18 and getting knocked out by rival Mount Carmel in a sectional semifinal.
Stack made it his mission to bring the Crusaders back.
'You just have to stay positive, even in the dark times,' Stack said. 'Last year, we had a really rough year. That's not who Brother Rice is. We wanted to make a statement this year and we knew leadership had to step up.
'Me and the other captains stepped up early and it's paying off now.'
Senior infielder Aidan Nohava said Stack is 'like no other.'
'Honestly, there's no words to describe Conner besides he's just a straight-up leader,' Nohava said. 'Any time we need something, he's there for us and everyone looks to him no matter what.
'I love Conner. I couldn't love the kid more.'
St. Laurence has received consistent production out of the ninth spot in its lineup from junior outfielder Danny Donovan.
Donovan is hitting .354 with 31 runs and 30 RBIs for the Vikings (35-5), who will take on Troy Triad (34-6) at 10 a.m. Friday in a Class 3A semifinal game.
'I've definitely gained confidence as the season has gone on,' Donovan said. 'My teammates and coaches believing in me has meant a lot to me. I just try to help my team, no matter where I'm hitting in the lineup.'
Donovan delivered a key two-run double to start a four-run second inning in Saturday's 11-1 win over Lemont in the sectional final. He went 2-for-3 in a 2-1 victory over Simeon in Monday's Crestwood Supersectional.
St. Laurence coach Pete Lotus trusts Donovan to come up with big hits and set things up for the top of the order.
'He's been so huge for us there,' Lotus said. 'It's so good to have someone that's a really good hitter down there in that nine spot. You know how most people treat nine hitters and he's not that.
'I've told him all year how important it is for him to keep having good at-bats and set things up for our guys at the top, and I've seen him embrace that role.'
Brother Rice and St. Laurence will try to complete a state championship sweep for private schools after Ottawa Marquette and Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin won the Class 1A and 2A titles, respectively, last weekend in Champaign.
Since the four-class system began in 2008, there has never been a year where private schools have won all four championships.
In Class 3A, Benet (26-12) is the only other private school competing this weekend at state.
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