Naperville Central advanced to the final eight of last summer's state tournament, which drew about 170 teams. The Redhawks should again be a factor in that event and beyond, considering that their batting order for Wednesday's 14-5 regional semifinal victory over Hinsdale Central began with five juniors.
That group doesn't even include junior second baseman Matt Soria, junior catcher Ryan Walsh or sophomore pitcher Dan Ludwig (5-1, 2.20 ERA).
Seniors Anthony Lopez and Pat Kaminska won't be a part of that future and would like to extend their Central careers by a few more games. Lopez will play at Illinois Wesleyan next season, while Kaminska has decided to enroll at John A. Logan, a junior college in Carterville.
Eventually Kaminska -- who on Wednesday was hitting 82 mph on one radar gun -- would like to follow in the footsteps of his older brother Kyle, a pitching prospect in the Florida Marlins organization.
"If I have to go to college for a year," Kaminska said, "that's the way I'd want to do (it). Go to college, raise some status and eventually (play) some pro ball."
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