Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 23 Oak Park-River Forest

RHP David Andolina: He's an upside sophomore that the Huskies have waiting in the wings. Andolina may not see much varsity action in 2020 but he is certainly a name to know and watch moving forward. Andolina has a loose, low effort arm, feel for pitching and a fastball that sat 80-84 mph this past summer with much more in there.

David Andolina (7/23/19)

X-FACTOR

RHP Austin Divello (2020). Divello, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound Coe College commit, was hurt in the first game of the season in 2019 and missed the entire season. Heading into the 2020 campaign, Divello is healthy and ready to add a third arm to the Huskies rotation. At the 2019 Preseason All-State, before the injury, Divello sat 82-85 mph, touching 86 with two distinct breaking balls. If Divello can be counted on as part of the rotation, the Huskies will have as good of a staff as any team in the West Suburban Conference. 

OUTLOOK

Last season’s Huskies team came one win short of reaching state after falling to Hampshire in the 4A super sectional. This year’s team is capable of finishing what the 2019 Huskies started, but they’re inexperienced and will have to fill the shoes of several high-end players who departed due to graduation. 

RHP Griffin Holderfield (Creighton), LHP Nathan Diamond (Pepperdine) and C Luke Fitzgerald (Creighton) were three Division I commits who were vital to last year’s success that leave the Huskies with holes to fill. Ironically, Griffin's younger brother, LHP Grant Holderfield (Indiana commit, 2021), is one of the top returners and will look to replace a number of the innings his brother leaves vacant. The talented junior left-hander has the stuff to evolve into the ace of a staff, including a mid-80’s fastball and sharp breaking ball but lacks big-game varsity experience. Holderfield will help on offense as well with the expectation being that he’ll see some time in the outfield when he’s not on the bum.  Alongside Holderfield, fellow junior, RHP Aidan Krupp (Notre Dame commit), will help form a formidable one-two punch at the top of the rotation. Krupp also lacks some varsity experience but he is a hulking 6-foot-3, 230-pound right-hander with a clean, easy arm and gets hard sink and run at times to his 84-87 mph fastball that touches 88 and has plenty more velocity in the tank. Krupp pairsit with a late-biting mid-70’s slider. Krupp also swings a physical right-handed bat and should get plenty of at-bats this spring. Two senior left-handers; Luke Clancy and Griffin Weisman will add quality depth to the staff this spring. Clancy and Weisman will likely be some of the first options out of the bullpen. Then there is the aforementioned Austin Divello. What Divello brings to the mound this spring could likely determine the upside to the Huskies season. 

Aidan Krupp (7/31/19)

On the other side of the ball, this Huskies’ team is led by three-year varsity starter Dylan Whitney (2020). A John Hopkins commit, Whitney is athletic with a feel for the game and a staple up the middle at shortstop for the Huskies. He’s also arguably their top bat, leading the team in batting average last season. Whitney should bat towards the top of their lineup and act as the main spark for the offense. 

Surrounding Whitney in this lineup are a plethora of talented bats with experience. Alan Brown (2020; Morehouse College) is an athletic outfielder with pull-side pop in his swing and should make an impact running the bases as well. Brown should be the everyday center fielder and hit in the middle-of-the-order. Eric Skala (2020; uncommitted) is another middle-of-the-order bat for the Huskies that provides some pop and is a sound defender over at first base. 

Both INF Billy Kouris (2021; uncommitted) and OF Joe Nieslawski (2021; uncommitted) are first-year varsity players that are expected to potentially be everyday pieces for this team. Kouris is a speedy third baseman capable of impacting the game in many ways, while Nieslawski has the potential to be an impact player in the outfield. Another outfielder who has made big strides in his game and is ready for a big senior season is senior Luke Meister. Meister is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound Kenyon College commit who runs a 7.06 60 and has twitch in his swing.

One underclassman to keep an eye on moving forward is RHP David Andolina (2022; uncommitted). Andolina has a strong, durable build, a mid-80s fastball and a curveball that he can consistently drop in for strikes. Don’t be shocked if by the end of spring, Andolina is adding even more depth to this intriguing pitching staff.

BOTTOM LINE

The Huskies have a talented roster that just lacks experience in a couple of spots. Outside of Whitney and Brown, most of their lineup are first-year varsity players or guys who contributed in small amounts last season. 

Pitching and defense will be key to this team’s success throughout the 2020 season. They have two of the top arms in the Illinois’ 2021 class that are capable of matching up with nearly every opponent they’ll see this season. If they reach their potential on the mound they will be as dangerous as anyone come playoff time. Keep an eye on the Huskies come late May.