Bucs baseball future is almost now

By Bob Kopp

BDR Sports Correspondent

BELVIDERE – It took over 27 hours for defending state champion Rockford Christian to beat Belvidere 1-0 in the 2016 Class 3A Regional Semi-final.

With play suspended by rain and lightning after less than two innings of scoreless action, the game resumed on a bright, sunny, and seasonably warm day in Belvidere and Boone County.

Loaded with senior talent and expecting to challenge for another state championship, everyone expected the RC pitching staff to present a stern test for the Bucs.

In order of appearance, Jacob Gugle, Nolan Gazouski, and Alec Powell pitched a combined four-hitter with twelve strikeouts.

Sophomore Brady Hauser showed the future of Bucs baseball is almost now as he executed an efficient game plan designed by Head Coach Andrew Walters with battery mate junior Anthony Cottichio to hold the defending state champions to one run on only three hits over six innings.

Complemented by steady to sensational senior centerfielder, Kyle Kozlowski, who ran down several balls for critical outs, Hauser also singled sharply up the middle in the third.

Kozlowski, junior Austin Revolinski, and junior Nico Reza also singled for the host of the Regional Playoffs.

While the Bucs will miss graduating seniors Drake Dutz, Matt Kopp, Kyle Kozlowski, Erik Moraza, Ryan Snyder, Troy Snyder, and Andrew Wesley, the next few editions of Bucs baseball should provide lots of problems for other championship contenders.

Freshman Head Coach Dan Hartzell and JV Head Coach John Fish have been getting the baby Bucs ready to join lone sophomore Hauser and juniors Revolinski, Reza, Jacob Rodriguez, Jaedon Mendoza, Josh Kugler, Kolton Morris, Austin Brockmann, and Cottichio for a strong run in 2017 under Head Coach Walters and assistants Scott Hyser, Mitch Hilden, and Patrick McKnight.