Senior right-hander Cole Van Assen has pitched in many big games for Brother Rice.
After a bit of a rocky first inning Saturday, with St. Rita scoring twice, the Purdue recruit was practically sterling for the Crusaders in giving up just three hits the rest of the way.
So, where does a pressure cooker under a hot sun against a Catholic League rival rate?
“I’ve been in bigger games, so I’m used to it,” he said with a shrug. “It’s my job to do that.”
For Van Assen, winning is job one. He went the distance, striking out eight without a walk in a four-hit gem for a 6-3 win in the Class 4A Mount Carmel Sectional championship game.
A five-run third inning proved to be big for Van Assen and Brother Rice (24-15), which will play Lincoln-Way East (31-8) — a 10-9 winner over Lockport — at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Crestwood Supersectional at Ozinga Field.
Sophomore second baseman Jackson Natanek, who went 2-for-3 and was on base three times, got the Crusaders on the scoreboard with a solo home run to center field in the first.
Natanek also had a bunt single tin the third as Brother Rice leveraged a walk, an error, a fielder’s choice and two other hits to break the game open in support of Van Assen.
Van Assen, who was first to hoist the sectional plaque in short right field, impressed St. Rita coach John Nee, who watched Louie Sisto outduel him on May 2 in a 5-2 win.
“He’s a big-game pitcher,” Nee said of Van Assen. “We knew that. We were fortunate enough to beat him during the regular season. (Saturday) he had a great breaking ball, and he beat us with his breaking ball.
“When a pitcher of that caliber who throws with that velocity has command of his breaking ball, he’s tough. My hat’s off to him.”
St. Rita (27-12) countered Van Assen with a home run in the fourth from junior designated hitter Jackson Stanek to the exact same spot as Natanek’s shot. Stanek had two RBIs.
Sophomore right-hander Peyton Panozzo also was solid for the Mustangs in relief of Sisto, allowing no runs and just two hits while striking out two.
Van Assen, meanwhile, was his usual self. As a junior, he prevailed over national power IMG Academy before beating Lincoln-Way West in the supersectional for the biggest wins of his career.
Nee confirmed Van Assen doesn’t have to throw hard to win. Junior catcher Randall Nauden, Van Assen’s batterymate, concurred.
“His off-speed was dominant (Saturday),” Nauden said. “Hitters didn’t know what to do with it. He mixed the curveball with the cutter, and when you can locate those pitches, it makes it hard.”
But there’s more to Van Assen than being able to locate his pitches. He can field his position, too.
In the bottom of the seventh, with one out and the game on the line, Timmy O’Connell hit a sharp grounder back to the mound. Van Assen threw him out, and then proceeded to do the same thing to pinch-hitter Anthony Sarro.
The recipient of both putouts was senior first baseman Amir Gray, who will join Van Assen at Purdue.
“I’ve never seen a ground ball get past him,” Gray said. “I promise you I haven’t. All he does is field his position. That’s what big-time players do.”
Now, the Crusaders have 48 hours to enjoy Saturday’s win after reaching their third straight supersectional.
Don’t expect Van Assen, however, to revel over his latest victory.
“I’m might not celebrate,” he said. “I’m looking for a state championship. I’m not satisfied yet.”
Gregg Voss is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
