The attention surrounding Oswego East’s Noah Schultz has been there for a few years.
The ability to get on the field and show what he can do, however, has eluded the 6-foot-9 left-handed pitcher.
With his sophomore season canceled due to the pandemic and his junior season truncated by injury, the Vanderbilt recruit is finally ready to show the Wolves what the hype is all about.
“It’s something that is surreal,” Schultz said. “It all happened super fast. It kind of sank in that this is my last year.
“I have to make it worth it and make it memorable. I’m confident we’re going to have a great season and it’s something I won’t forget.”
Schultz got his feet wet Monday in a 4-3 loss to Lockport in the season opener. He struck out three in two innings before giving way to Wichita State recruit Ashton Izzi, the second half of Oswego East’s one-two punch atop the rotation.
“There’s going to be some limitations early in the season to make sure he ramps up in a way that is beneficial for himself and for the team,” said Brian Schaeffer, who’s in his first year as Oswego East’s coach. “We’re just making sure we’re being safe.”
Being safe is understandable considering where Schultz ranks nationally and in Illinois. Prep Baseball Report ranks him first in the state overall and the fourth-best lefty in the nation.
Throwing out of a three-quarters arm slot, Schultz gets on hitters in a hurry with his size. His fastball touches 94 mph.
“What he has is impressive,” Schaeffer said. “His build, his strength and all of that is impressive. His ability to locate his fastball and his off-speed pitches, we’re excited to see him in those situations, put him in the grind of a high school baseball season.
“We’re looking forward to seeing what he can do.”
Schultz also possesses another devastating pitch.
“Everybody talks about his slider,” Schaeffer said. “It’s one of those pitches I’d be surprised if anybody could touch it.”
Schultz already touted two offerings that were well above average for his age.
He figured if he wants to start at Vanderbilt and beyond, though, he needed that third pitch. He said he had a change-up last season but didn’t use it often.
“I wasn’t confident in it,” Schultz said. “I was always thinking that change-ups have to be slow, so I tried to throw it slow. I control it better the harder I throw it.”
Schultz worked with Mark Sheehan, his pitching coach, on a new grip in the offseason. Two of his strikeouts Monday came on the change-up.
“It’s nice to have a third pitch to keep people guessing,” Schultz said. “My change-up moves outside, the opposite of my slider.”
Izzi checks in at ninth for the 2022 class, according to Prep Baseball Report, meaning the Wolves have two of the best pitchers in Illinois.
Naturally, that creates a lot of buzz.
“Ashton and I played together since we were 14, but he was mostly a shortstop,” Schultz said. “We both had injuries last year and sophomore year was COVID.
“This will be the first time in a long time we’ve pitched together. We have a good bond.”
For many players, their baseball careers end after high school. Schultz knows he has much more in his future beyond this season.
That doesn’t mean he isn’t going to savor putting on his Oswego East jersey every chance he gets this spring.
“I’ve never been more excited,” Schultz said. “I love our team. We’re really close. We play well with each other.
“I’m looking forward to this year. I think we’re going to do really well.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
