Spartans must fight way back to top

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Glenbrook North's Peter Resnick, pitching at the Stevenson Showcase this summer, will get plenty of chances to take the mound next spring for the Spartans. | Rob Dicker~Sun-Times Media

Updated: November 2, 2011 5:24AM

The Glenbrook North baseball team got a few questions answered this summer, and that mostly is what coach Dominic Savino hoped to accomplish this offseason.

The Spartans graduated five fielders and their two aces in the rotation from this spring’s 33-4 club that was one win away from playing at the state tournament.

“One thing I will tell you is that I don’t think we will be as talented,” the second-year coach said. “I do think we will have more depth, and that depth will promote internal competition. That competition is going to help us improve at a much faster rate. We have a lot of guys fighting for spots.”

Glenbrook North ended its summer with a 7-0 loss to Fremd in the second round of the Palatine Regional. The Spartans opened the playoffs with a 14-3 victory over New Trier.

“The pieces of the puzzle are there,” said Savino, who captured a CSL North championship in his first season with the Spartans. “It’s a matter of putting them all together.”

The top of the rotation is among the areas of focus after Glenbrook North graduated 28 of its 33 wins on the mound. But Savino likes what he sees in senior Peter Resnick, senior John Boidanis, senior Dan Jankelow and senior Mark Johnson.

Resnick returns with the most experience, but will move from the bullpen to the starting rotation in 2012. He started one playoff game last year.

“No doubt we have arms,” Savino said. “We have to develop that understanding of what it takes to get hitters out at a varsity level.”

Boidanis and Johnson, a 6-foot-5 right-hander, are two pitchers who impressed Savino this summer. Neither pitched much last year as a junior.

“I believe John’s going to be one of those guys who make a gigantic leap,” Savino said. “Mark also has huge upside. He’s long, lanky and has a live arm. We expect big things from him.”

One player who will be filling big shoes in the field is Brad Ruchman. The senior is moving from second base to shortstop, where Brett Synek played for three seasons.

“He’s done an outstanding job, and he showed us he has the skill set to play shortstop,” Savino said.

Juniors Paul Brandeisky and Drew Malter also got long looks this summer, and both expect to contribute to the varsity team next season.

“You’re always going to lose seniors,” Savino said. “But that’s part of the exciting thing about high school athletics. What I miss most about the senior class was their approach. Wins were a by-product of that, and I think some of the younger players we have learned from that. There is a standard of play now.”