Moline hitting its stride, sweeps St. Viator

May 19, 2013

By Sean Duncan
Executive Director

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – Moline entered the 2013 season with a preseason rank of No. 17 because, well, the Maroons have high-level talent all over the field. Moline, however, hadn’t necessarily lived up to their lofty expectations and ability.

That is, until now.

The Maroons appear to be peaking at the right time, and provided a small sample Saturday when they spoiled St. Viator’s senior day by sweeping the hosts, 9-0 and 9-7, in a nonconference doubleheader.

Moline (22-9) looks to be a very dangerous club as the Class 4A state playoffs begin. The Maroons have impressive pitching depth, headlined by a pair of Division I pitchers, athleticism, solid defense and overall talent throughout its lineup. Its slow start this season, however, may cost the Maroons, as they likely have a date with No. 3 Normal West, which just notched its 24^th straight victory on Saturday against perennial power Lyons Township, in the regional championship game at Normal Community HS next Saturday.

Against St. Viator (18-14), Moline pushed across two runs on four hits in the first inning and never looked back. Senior left-hander Dallas DeVrieze (7-2), an Appalachian State recruit, mowed down the Lions in his four-inning stint, yielding two singles with four strikeouts and no walks behind a healthy three-pitch mix.

Senior OF/RHP Matt Brill put the game out of reach when he blasted a fourth-inning grand slam to right-center field. Brill, also an Appalachian State recruit, has been receiving considerable pro interest this spring for his abilities on the mound. The extremely athletic right-hander features an 88-91 mph fastball with a sharp breaking ball.

Junior right fielder Mitch Peterson added a three-run double in the fifth to make it 9-0. Junior center fielder Braden Mosley, who’s ranked No. 16 in Illinois’ 2014 class, had two hits in the first game, including an RBI double in the first inning.

In Game 2, St. Viator mounted a 3-1 lead on Harry McQuillan’s RBI single. But Moline quickly went to work in the top half of the fourth to recapture the momentum for good.

Senior left-handed hitting catcher Jake Viaene, a Black Hawk College recruit, was the offensive catalyst. He crushed a home run over the right field scoreboard to cut the deficit to 3-2, then he ripped a two-run single to give the Maroons a 4-3 advantage. He also had a double in the first and finished 3-for-3 with an intentional walk.

Freshman 6-foot-3 third baseman Mitch Owens, who looks to be one of the better 2016 prospects we have seen, added a two-run double in the second game and made several impressive plays in the field. Senior Devin Struble also had a pair of run-scoring singles in the game.

More in-depth reports about the prospects in the game will be posted later in the Illinois Scouting Blog.

Moline hitting its stride, sweeps St. Viator

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