Marian makes it last

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The baseball season began at Marian Central with optimism and uncertainty.

Pitchers Dave Parr and Dave Luczak were so good on last year’s IHSA Class 3A State Tournament third-place team that they earned Northwest Herald All-Area first-team honors.

“We had two studs [last season] with Parr and Luczak,” Hurricanes shortstop Steven Zubrzycki said. “I wasn’t sure how good we were going to be. Ian [Maxeiner] and Lincoln [Herendeen] have been great [at the top of the rotation]. We have a good defense now, and our hitting is better than last year. I’m excited.”

Despite losing Parr and Luczak to graduation, along with four other starters, Marian is right where it’s been eight of the past 11 years: In a sectional tournament. The Hurricanes (19-10) defeated Belvidere, 6-3, to win the Class 3A Belvidere Regional championship Saturday.

Conversely, Kaneland (21-10) won its first regional title in school history Saturday and will meet the Hurricanes at 4 p.m. today in a Rochelle Sectional semifinal. The winner advances to Saturday’s 11 a.m. championship game against the winner of Thursday’s game between Rochelle and Marmion.

Marian coach Gregg Wikierak recently informed his players this was his final season. The Hurricanes are providing their coach with a special sendoff, as Saturday’s victory put Wikierak at 400-234-4 for his career. It was his 10th regional title at Marian.

“Some of the kids have mentioned it,” said Wikierak, who was inducted into the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in February. “We talk about the seniors and how this is their opportunity to make a mark. This is something that will be with them the rest of their lives.”

Zubrzycki, catcher Andrew Stone and right fielder Brett Kosar are the three returning starters from last season. Zubrzycki is thrilled for the players, but also that the team won another regional for Wikierak.

“It’s an honor playing for him,” Zubrzycki said. “We look at him not just as a baseball coach, but someone who teaches us life lessons. We’re really glad to give him his rightful due.”

Marian is one of five Suburban Christian Conference Blue Division teams to win regionals this season.

Walther Lutheran and Chicago Christian won in Class 2A, and Walther is a state semifinalist in that class. Marmion and St. Francis won 3A regionals.

Wikierak said he thinks that with the right mental frame, the Hurricanes can keep playing.

“We’ve been fortunate. We’ve had good pitching and timely hitting [through the regional],” Wikierak said. “I don’t think we’re great, but we do a lot of things very well.

We’re still growing, and if we learn in the right situations here and don’t make mistakes, we can be there at the end of a game with anybody.”