Lake Forest Academy Baseball has 'Plenty of Power' This Season

Last Year's Record:  In a season-plagued 2010 campaign, the Caxys finished with a 7-12 record.

Top Returnees:  After a superb season on the mound and at the plate, senior Eric Clamage, last year's co-captain and MVP, returns to the team.  Clamage went 3-1 with 3.9 earned run average, to go along with his .333 batting average and 11 runs batted in, on the season. 

Junior outfielder Graham Wick will join Clamage on the mound as the speedy Wick is coming off a stellar year where he batted .301, hit two home runs, and drove in nine runs, thanks in large part to his two doubles and three triples.

Senior power hitter, Nick Ustaski (.363, 1 HR, 6 2B, 12 RBI) returns along with Julian Rutkowski, who is coming off a no-hitter against North Chicago last season.

Top Newcomers:  Junior Taylor Jemilo will be a triple-threat player for the Caxys as he will be behind the plate, pitching, and playing infield. 

Juniors Shane Penman, Matt Ustaski, and Eric Bauer’s strong bats will bring a lot of power to the middle of the lineup.  Sophomore James Padley’s speed and contact will bring some much-needed help to the top of the lineup and the middle of the infield. 

Carter Snyder and James Wick will be the only two freshmen on the team this season as Snyder will be the lone southpaw for the Caxys this season.  Wick’s superb defensive skills behind the plate and at the hot corner will definitely help the Caxys defense win games this season.

Team Strengths:  “I’m very excited about this year’s team.  We have a lot of power and five left-handed hitters in the line-up,” said Caxys head coach David Wick.  “The core of our team is made up of experienced players, but we have several talented newcomers as well.”

“For the first time in several years, we have lots of depth in our pitching rotation, 12 of the 13 players on the roster pitch,” coach Wick continued.  “This will give me great flexibility in putting together my game plan for each opponent.”

Team Challenges:  While staying healthy will be a key challenge for the Caxys this season, coach Wick stated that the schedule will also be a tough one for the team. 

After the opening weekend of games, the Caxys will participate in the Harvard Tournament on April 1st and 2nd, a tournament that will pit them against Harvard High School and Richmond Burton High School.

The schedule doesn’t get any easier for the Caxys as other challenging opponents will include Waukegan High School, Ridgewood High School, and St. Catherine's High School in Racine.

Season Opener:  The Caxys travel to Kansas City for the opening weekend series as they take on St. James Academy on Friday at 4:30 p.m.  The Caxys follow up with a grueling doubleheader on Saturday when they play Pleasant Hill and Pembroke Hill at 10 a.m and 12:30 p.m., respectively.

Lake Forest Academy Season Schedule:  To view the full Caxys season schedule, click here