Brother Rice’s Nolan Ramoley never looks back or even wonders what might have been.
The senior right fielder pushes forward and plays the game the same way — with passion and purpose. And that definitely shows up when he steps into the batter’s box for the Crusaders.
“I am as competitive as they come and I like to show that every day in the way I play,” Ramoley said with a nod. “That’s my greatest thrill as a player … the competitiveness of the game.”
The Northwestern commit came to play again Saturday.
Ramoley blasts a three-run homer as part of an epic 10-run fourth inning, sparking Brother Rice to a 22-11 win over host Homewood-Flossmoor in Do It Steve’s Way Tournament game in Flossmoor.
The Crusaders (10-7) collected 10 extra-base hits and hit three home runs. Besides Ramoley, junior shortstop Luca Agne and junior outfielder Joey Escobarete also hit homers.
Sophomore shortstop Mikey Watson, an Illinois-Chicago commit, came up with a two-run double and drove in four runs for H-F (10-5). Senior infielder Jhames Holley III added three RBIs.
Ramoley, meanwhile, continues to roll for the Crusaders. As a junior last season, he batted .310 with 34 hits, 31 runs and 28 RBIs.
“Nolan is very physically gifted,” Brother Rice coach Sean McBride said. “He has worked really hard battling a few injuries and obstacles the past few years.
“Offensively, he’s a huge piece of our lineup and he’s developed into a solid outfielder.”
Carson Ramoley, Nolan’s younger brother, is a sophomore outfielder. Their sister, Lydia, is a freshman on the Marist dance team. And Nolan also helps inspire his younger teammates.
“I feel like Nolan is just a grinder and a hard worker,” Agne said of the three-year varsity regular. “He’s the type of player who keeps attacking. No matter what, he grinds through the adversity.”
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Ramoley generates tremendous power from the right side of the plate, as demonstrated by his three-run homer.
“I had two strikes, I was sitting on a fastball and I just waited to make contact,” he said. “I obviously can make contact, but I also feel like I have the speed and quickness to get on base and steal.”
Growing up, baseball and hockey were the intertwined passions of his life. He played high-level travel hockey until the start of his freshman year, when baseball took hold.
“I stopped playing hockey to go all-in for baseball,” he said. “The summer before my freshman year, I really got into the weight room and started buying into the process.
“I saw results start to show, and that was what made me keep working on my game and getting more physical.”
He came up through the Palos Baseball Organization, starting at age 6. His explosiveness and athleticism developed out of hockey and baseball combined with his prototypical size.
One of the best seniors in the state, he was timed in 6.52 seconds in the 60-yard dash, putting him in the top percentile for that coveted metric.
Success, however, wasn’t immediate. That has made his growth all the more satisfying.
“Sophomore year, I was in and out of the lineup and eventually earned my spot in right field,” he said. “Back then, I was the young guy taking it in from the older guys and now I’m the older guy.”
Last season, Ramoley sparked Brother Rice’s run to fourth place in Class 4A with a dominant performance in the supersectional against Providence.
“You can be a really talented team and that doesn’t guarantee anything,” he said. “This is my last ride. I’m taking it all in, trying to be the best player on the best team possible before my time is up.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
