Will Rewers excelled for St. Rita, leading the Mustangs back to state level for the first time since 2019. The senior pitcher was overwhelmed with emotions after pitching an exceptional game. I can’t even put it into words,
Rewers expressed. I’m surprised I’m not crying right now. I’m probably going to cry later when I get home. But not sad crying, obviously. I’ve been dreaming about playing for a state championship since I was a freshman. It feels amazing to be here.
Rewers, who will attend St. Ambrose, effectively shut down Nazareth, pitching a two-hitter and striking out 10 batters. This performance resulted in a 2-0 win in the Class 3A Crestwood Supersectional at Ozinga Field. Julio Gutierrez contributed by going 2-for-4 with a double and a run, and Frank Garofalo also added a single and a score for the Mustangs, who now hold a 28-12 record and have secured the program’s fifth state trophy.
St. Rita will face East Peoria, who secured an 8-1 victory over Geneva, in a state semifinal at Slammers Stadium in Joliet at 10 a.m. on Friday. This is wonderful, man,
Gutierrez expressed. I’m at a loss for words now, I’m just so excited to do this with my boys. We’re almost done but God’s not finished, though.
Rewers limited Nazareth, with a 29-10 record, to only two hits, allowing a single in both the third and sixth innings. He gave two walks and hit one batter, making those the only baserunners allowed. He faced Florida State recruit Landon Thome, managing to retire the MLB prospect twice with a flyout and a strikeout, and walking him once.
When I face guys like that, I just want to make sure no one’s on base when they come up,
Rewers said. I did a good job of that. But the strikeout I had in his third at-bat definitely fired me up and fired everyone else up.
Rewers has achieved an 8-1 record with a 2.47 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 51 innings this season. His journey hasn’t been smooth as he underwent elbow surgery during his freshman year.
It wasn’t full Tommy John but it was a partial reconstruction,
he explained. They were able to sew it back together and put on a brace. It happened my third outing freshman year against Fenwick and I remember the pain. I was back about midway through my sophomore year.
He learned to pitch using his body post-recovery, and his current form showcases his improvement.
Will’s a dog,
Gutierrez praised. I think he’s tops in the country. He carries his team. To pitch a shutout in a supersectional, only the ones do that and he’s a one.
Gutierrez provided essential support by doubling to start the fourth inning and scored on a balk. Garofalo added to the lead by scoring on a wild pitch in the seventh inning.
Rewers handled the rest, prompting St. Rita coach John Nee to envision narrating this performance to future Mustangs. We told a bunch of stories before the game about all our past supersectional championships and I said, ‘Hey, do something tonight where we’re going to be telling stories about you,’
Nee recounted. Now, we’re going to be telling Will’s story.
Rewers plans to remember the moment by sleeping with the supersectional plaque. This is definitely the best game of my life,
he declared. I think the only thing that could top it is if we play for a state championship on Saturday.