By Brad Engel and Patrick Mooney
Bryan Roberts was arguably the area's most valuable player. With the dominant senior on the mound, Benet could always hang with the top teams in the Chicago area. In press boxes, the line of reasoning would go something like this: Where would Benet be without Roberts?
But no one can answer that question, and it's clear where Neuqua Valley wound up with Ian Krol -- back among the state's elite programs, playing on the final day of the season.
Other media outlets release its end-of-season awards before the season actually ends. The Sun waited until Neuqua had finished third at the Class 4A tournament, and Krol had already won four playoff games. It's difficult to ignore how the junior performed during the spring's defining stretch.
It may be hard to remember now, but at first glance Neuqua was struggling under the weight of last season's state title. They started the season 6-2 with losses to Naperville Central and Schaumburg -- perennially successful programs. At that point, a fair question would have been: Where will Neuqua be without Krol?
Krol was cleared by coach Robin Renner after those eight games, and his return not only elevated the pitching staff. The first baseman stabilized a shaky infield defense, and jumpstarted the offense as a No. 2 hitter. Krol's all-around game brought the Wildcats back together again, and they eventually ripped off a 17-game winning streak and claimed the top seed in a loaded sectional.
In Roberts, Illinois will be getting a major Division I prospect at more than one position -- pitcher, catcher, designated hitter, wherever he ultimately fits best. Roberts called his own pitches, unlike Krol, and acted as a virtual coach on the field for a team that needed veteran leadership.
Krol comes across as more of a free spirit than the businesslike Roberts, but don't underestimate the impact the junior has made at Neuqua. His personality kept the team loose during a schedule that can demand five games a week. (Krol even showed Mike McKinley how to throw his wicked curveball). And maybe -- after two straight trips to the state finals tournament -- Kroll will now be ready to take on even more of a leadership role for a program that loses nine seniors.
There's no doubt that when the time comes to look back on choosing Krol, it won't stick out like a sore thumb. In one Sun baseball writer's opinion, Krol is Mike Bowden all over again. For those new to Naperville-area baseball, Bowden won back-to-back Sun Player of the Year honors as a righthanded pitcher for Waubonsie Valley, pushed the Warriors to the Class AA State Final Tournament as a senior and got selected by the Red Sox in the supplemental first round of the 2005 MLB Draft.
Krol, a left-hander, projects similarly. He's already drawn the interest of more than 50 colleges as well as many major-league scouts. Following a busy summer of showcases and the like, Krol will either play or pass on soccer in the fall and then get busy in the winter for his spring baseball season. Scouts will document his every pitch and offers will be made left and right for his services. If his journey unfolds anything like Bowden's, he'll accept a scholarship offer to a major Division-I college and then kindly pass on it for a big-time signing bonus and a chance to make quick work of the minors.
It'll be a fun ride, you won't want to miss it and The Sun certainly doesn't feel it missed the boat by choosing Krol.
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