By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

Over the next few weeks, in addition to highlighting the Top 10 Player Profiles of 2016, we will also highlight the Top 10 Stories in Illinois High School Baseball during the 2016 calendar year.

Today, we’ll take a look at No. 9 Mundelein Turns Season Around, State Runner Up

Mundelein is used to winning. They have won 25 or more games nine years in a row. In 2002 they won 32 games and placed fourth in state. However, making a long run in the playoffs looked like a long shot on April 15th of this year when the Mustangs were sitting just two games over .500 at 8-6. They had just lost five of their last six games, scoring a total of six runs in those five losses, being shut out twice.

That is when a nine game winning streak happened for the Mustangs, turning around their year. In a 16 day span (nine wins), the Mustangs improved their record to 17-6 and outscored opponents 78-13.

Following April 15th, the Mustangs won 24 of their next 27 games and advanced to the Class 4A state title game against Providence Catholic. Despite losing the title game it was quite the run and quite the turn around for a team that was on the ropes in mid April.

The Mustangs pitching staff led the way for most of the season and in the postseason, recording three shutouts in their five postseason games leading up to the state finals.

Mundelein (31-10) was led by PBR First Team All-State selection Brendan Murphy, an Arizona state commit, on the mound and at the plate this spring. On the season he went 10-2 with a 1.12 ERA on the mound. He struck out 109 batters in 69 innings pitched and held opponents to a .137 batting average against. At the plate, Murphy was equally as impressive. He hit .433 with 16 doubles, two home runs and 34 RBI.

Junior Will Michalski was the No. 2 on the mound for the Mustangs. Entering the state finals He had appeared in 20 games, had an 8-2 record and sported a 2.12 ERA. In 59.1 innings he struck out 66 batters and gave up 44 hits.

At the plate, Nick Stricker, Jeff Morton and Brett Parola we all big contributors. Entering the state finals Stricker was hitting .312 with 12 doubles, two triples, 36 runs and 19 RBI. Morton was hitting .372 with nine doubles, two triples, two home runs, 27 runs and 16 RBI. Parola was batting .318 with nine doubles, 21 RBI and 25 runs scored.

Mundelein is coached by Todd Parola.

Game Stories from 2016:

+ 5.12.16 - Mundelein Takes Down Lake Zurich 5-2
+ 5.28.16 - 4A Libertyville Regional: Mundelein Takes Regional Title
+ 6.7.16 - Mundelein Shuts out Huntley on Their Way to State 
+ 6.10.16 - A Six-Run Fifth Inning Catapults Mundelein to 4A State Final

Top 10 Stories of 2016