By Sean Duncan

CHICAGO – The St. Rita-Brother Rice matchup, a must-see classic for many years, didn’t have the same vibe Saturday. Despite lacking the intensity and overall firepower of yesteryear, St. Rita put forth a strong all-around effort to defeat visiting Brother Rice 3-1 in a quick Chicago Catholic League Blue game.

Senior right-hander Billy Henry threw a three-hit complete game for the Mustangs (18-8, 9-4). After allowing an unearned run in the first inning, Henry made quick work of Brother Rice (16-11,7-6), yielding two singles through the final six innings. Henry struck out two, walked one and hit one batter. The Mustangs’ defense was rock-solid behind Henry. After committing two errors in the first inning, St. Rita’s defense was flawless the rest of the way.

St. Rita’s offense didn’t fare much better against Brother Rice senior left-hander Sean McGrath (3-5), who allowed five hits, walked three and struck out one in a complete-game effort.

That is, except for junior outfielder Anthony Ray. The left-handed hitting Ray showed why he is one of the most dynamic Class of 2013 prospects in Illinois on Saturday. After Brother Rice took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Ray opened up the bottom half with a line-shot single. He proceeded to steal second base on the first pitch, and came around to score on sophomore shortstop Jake Shepski’s single.

A similar scenario played out in the third inning, when Ray led off with a single, swiped second base, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on Shepski’s ground out to make it 2-1. All told, the 5-foot-11 Ray, who’s ranked No. 15 in the junior class, went 2-for-3 with two runs and two stolen bases.

Ray also showed his defensive prowess when he fired a strike from left field to gun down Kevin McDonnell at the plate. In the same inning he made a running over-the-shoulder catch.

Shepski, who’s ranked No. 7 in the Class of 2014, drove in two runs, and junior Chad Prieto drove in a run on a sacrifice fly in the third inning to give St. Rita a 3-1 advantage.

After the third inning, the two teams combined for two hits.