Grundy right at home with Miami Hurricanes

Playing baseball at the University of Miami, a school with four national titles, is a unique experience. 

Johnsburg grad Jerad Grundy, a freshman pitcher for the Hurricanes, learned that lesson quickly when he arrived in South Florida last fall.

"When you see guys like (Milwaukee outfielder) Ryan Braun walking around campus and working out here, it definitely gives you something to shoot for," Grundy said. "He went here and look what he's done."

Braun, a two-time All-Star, is one of eight current Miami players in the major leagues that helped build Miami's solid tradition, which is something Grundy has had a hand in upholding this season.

Grundy, a left-handed pitcher, is 2-0 with a 3.57 ERA for the seventh-ranked Hurricanes (34-11) as the team's No. 5 starting pitcher and a middle reliever.

"I'm being challenged every day to get better," Grundy said. "The talent level here can only help you excel. It makes you want to work harder."

Grundy has made a pair of starts this season in midweek games and recently has shined in a relief role.

Grundy is part of a young bullpen that has allowed only 28 earned runs in 24 Atlantic Coast Conference games this season.

He pitched a scoreless inning Sunday in a 9-1 win against Maryland and posted 1 1/3 scoreless innings in a 6-5 win April 23 against in-state rival and then-No. 6 Florida State in Tallahassee, Fla.

"Coming in with the game on the line takes a different mindset," Grundy said. "There's a lot of pressure. I was so used to starting in high school. And starting is a lot different than relieving."

Grundy said his transition to a relief role has been helped by a new changeup he has learned and is using frequently.

"I'm pitching off of my changeup now instead of off of my fastball," he said.

Along with a new pitch, Grundy said he's learned many lessons from the team's coaches and older players.

"Just to have access to those guys is great," he said. "I've learned a lot about pitching. And, I think I've learned a lot more mentally about baseball, which has helped out a ton."

Well-armed at Rose-Hulman: Cary-Grove grad Nick Maloney and Crystal Lake Central's Gannon Sadzeck are two of the top starting pitchers this season for D-III Rose-Hulman in Terre Haute, Ind. 

Maloney (5-1) and Sadzeck (3-0) have helped the Engineers to a 25-9 record and a national ranking streak of nine consecutive weeks in the D3Baseball.com poll, which ended this week. 

Concordia powerhouse: Senior softball catcher Colleen Mullaney was named one of Concordia University Chicago's two Athletes of the Week on Tuesday.

Mullaney, a Cary-Grove grad, finished her career with a flourish, batting .385 over the teams final eight games with eight runs scored and nine RBIs.

Mullaney's effort helped Concordia, which finished the season 11-29, to a 4-4 record over its last eight contests.

Barry Bottino writes a weekly column and a blog about local college athletes for the Northwest Herald. Write to him at BarryOnCampus@hotmail.com and check out his On Campus column every Saturday in the Northwest Herald sports section.