Colin Bettenhausen is cool and composed each time he takes the mound for Lincoln-Way East.
The junior right-hander doesn’t get rattled when he gives up a hit. And he may owe some of that ability to shake off setbacks to his other sport. Bettenhausen golfs in the fall for the Griffins.
“I do think golf helps me mentally with pitching,” Bettenhausen said. “It’s just not letting things get to me. Just being able to bounce back really quickly.”
Bettenhausen has been so good that he hasn’t had to test his resilience too often yet this spring.
He continued a dominant start to the season by tossing a three-hitter Thursday, lifting the host Griffins to a 4-0 SouthWest Suburban Conference win over Lincoln-Way West in Frankfort.
Valparaiso recruit Evan Riiff and Rocco Triolo each produced an RBI double for Lincoln-Way East (11-0, 3-0), while Case Templin and Purdue commit Cooper Johnson added RBI singles.
Bettenhausen (3-0) struck out eight and didn’t issue a walk in pitching the complete game. He hasn’t allowed a run this season in 14 2/3 innings.
“Confidence is high,” Bettenhausen said. “All the pitches are working. I’m just liking how it’s all coming together.”
Junior righty Jackson Heinlen did his best to match Bettenhausen on the mound for Lincoln-Way West (8-2, 2-1). He allowed just one hit — Riif’s RBI double — through the first five innings before the Griffins struck for three runs on three hits in the sixth.
Heinlen struck out five and allowed three earned runs in six innings. Jackson Mansker went 2-for-3 for the Warriors.
Bettenhausen appreciated the challenge from Heinlen. With both pitchers shutting down the opposition, the first five innings flew by.
“Quick games, I feel like I pitch so much better in,” Bettenhausen said. “You’re right back out there. There’s less time to think about it.”
Senior catcher Jake Newman, a Lewis recruit, praised Bettenhausen for his ability to keep calm in any situation.
“You watch him pitch and there’s no emotion out there, no matter what,” Newman said. “He stays composed and he just goes out there and battles. He gives up a double and then he just goes out there and fights to get the next kid out.
“It’s so good as a catcher to have someone like him who just fights and battles and will do anything for the team.”
Bettenhausen pitched primarily out of the bullpen last season. The Griffins graduated a big part of their starting rotation from 2025. That includes flamethrowing lefty Jack Bauer, who is now at Mississippi State, and Jack Tamer, who led the way with six wins.
Those are big shoes to fill and Bettenhausen knew he was one of the guys who would be depended on to step into them.
“There was a little bit of pressure but last year helped me, for sure,” Bettenhausen said. “It definitely helps with the nerves. It just kind of goes away the more you pitch out there.
“Now I’m just going out there and doing what I do.”
Riiff provided the only offense Bettenhausen would need Thursday, ripping his RBI double in the third inning.
“I got a heater and did some damage with it,” Riiff said. “I knew that a double would get the run home and we needed that spark.”
Lincoln-Way East coach John McCarthy had faith that Bettenhausen could do the rest.
“He has quiet confidence,” McCarthy said of Bettenhausen. “He has a belief in what he’s doing and he’s an incredible competitor. Seeing him come out of last year and grow and roll into this big role, it’s been huge for our team.
“It’s a pleasure coaching him and it’s a pleasure for our guys to play behind him.”
