‘He has no fear’

Huntley pitcher Jeremy Ahillen has a 2.70 ERA and has struck out 46 batters in 70 innings this season. The left-hander will start for the Red Raiders today in their IHSA Class 4A State Tournament semifinal. (Lauren M. Anderson – landerson@nwherald.com)

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At 5-foot-11 and 155 pounds, with a fastball in the low 80 mph range, Huntley left-hander Jeremy Ahillen hardly strikes an intimidating presence on a pitching mound.

Ahillen throws three-quarters to sidearm most of the time. Wheaton North catcher Ben Morrow described his motion as “one of the weirdest deliveries I’ve ever seen.”

Ahillen took that as a compliment.

“I’m not trying to be like anyone else,” Ahillen said. “I just do my arm thing.”

Ahillen (9-1) has been the Red Raiders’ workhorse in the playoffs, picking up wins in their past three playoff games. He was the obvious choice for Huntley coach Andy Jakubowski to start the IHSA Class 4A State Tournament semifinal against Chicago St. Rita at Joliet’s Silver Cross Field at 5 p.m. today.

“He’s a soft lefty, but his ball moves all over the place,” Jakubowski said. “He takes stuff off, he adds velocity. We would not be in the place we are without Jeremy Ahillen.”

Ahillen has a 2.70 ERA and has struck out 46 batters in 70 innings. He threw a complete game to defeat Cary-Grove, 5-4, on Saturday in the Larkin Sectional championship, then won Monday’s Rockford RiverHawks Supersectional, 2-1, against Wheaton North in relief of Jake Staab.

“He changes speeds nicely and moves it in and out,” catcher Phil Pupillo said. “There’s a lot of tail on his fastball, he eats up innings and has a loose arm. We have confidence in him to throw any pitch at any time.”

Ahillen, in many ways, is a self-made pitcher. Although While many pitchers have coaches they work with throughout the year, Ahillen does not. The side-winding motion is something that has sort of evolved.

“As I got lower and lower, it feels more comfortable,” Ahillen said. “I just love having the ball and going out there. I have a lot of confidence and believe I can get out of any situation.”

Ahillen is looking at NCAA Division III Rockford College, along with Harper College and McHenry County College. Elgin Community College also might enter the picture.

Huntley (29-9) and Ahillen will have their hands full with St. Rita (31-9). The Mustangs have been one of the state’s top-rated teams all season, have four players with more than 40 RBIs and hit .363 as a team. Still, the Raiders will have the player they want on the mound.

“Jeremy will take the ball whenever we ask,” Jakubowski said. “He’s a competitor, and he has no fear.”