By Steve Nielsen

Today’s Player Spotlight is on unsigned senior Connor Riley. Riley is an athletically built right-handed pitcher that led Marmion HS to a 20-plus win season in 2012. As the ace of the Cadet staff, Riley recorded a 7-2 record with a 2.74 ERA; he also punched out 66 batters against 11 walks in 42 innings of work.

Riley, a Class of 2013 graduate, is a 6-foot-1, 170-pound right-handed pitcher who throws from a high ¾ arm slot. He possesses an athletic, repeatable delivery showing solid rhythm and command. Riley shows solid feel with his 82-84 mph fastball. His off-speed pitches feature a 72-74 mph curveball that has late two-plane life with bite and a 75-76 mph changeup that flashes sink.

As a captain and one of the only returning starting seniors, Riley will certainly be a leader on a young Marmion team in 2013. The road could be a little tougher this year as Marmion has been bumped up from class 3A to 4A, but Riley and the Cadets are poised to repeat as conference champs and make another run in the playoffs.