Hononegah's storybook season comes to an end against Major League prospect
Hononegah freshman Nolan Mabie shut out Elmhurst York for the first three innings of Monday’s supersectional. But Hononegah’s bats couldn’t deliver in the biggest challenge of their lives as York advanced to the Class 4A state baseball semifinals with a 5-0 victory.
Hono was no-hit by Ryan Sloan, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-hander who has committed to play for Wake Forest. Sloan shut out No. 1 seed St. Charles East 1-0 in his last game.
“He was unhittable,” Hononegah coach Matt Simpson said. “He was every bit as good as advertised. He touched 96 and threw regularly in the low 90s with a wipe-out slider about 80.
“I don’t think he will ever be going to Wake Forest. He will be a first-round draft pick if he stays healthy.”
More: Hononegah advances to Elite 8 of state baseball tournament, on doorstep of history
Hononegah (29-7) finished one win short of the school record and won only the second sectional title in school history, all with a team that only had three seniors.
“We had some young kids, but our seniors were tremendous leaders and got them to play the right way over the last three months,” Simpson said. “The future is obviously bright, but what are they going to do to get better over the next six or seven months? They can’t get complacent and think they are already good at the varsity level. That’s not how it works.”
Elmhurst York scored two runs in the fourth off Mabie and added three in the fifth to put Hononegah away. Hono had no chance against Sloan, but even that is an experience they may one day remember fondly.
“That was something we talked about at the end of the game,” Simpson said. “He was an absolute stud on the mound. You are probably going to see him pitching at high levels down the road. You can say we went toe-to-toe with him at the supersectional. It’s a story the kids can talk about for years. It will be fun to watch his career track.”
Contact: mtrowbridge@rrstar.com, @matttrowbridge or 815-987-1383. Matt Trowbridge has covered sports for the Rockford Register Star for over 30 years, after previous stints in North Dakota, Delaware, Vermont and Iowa City.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Big-time pitching prospect shuts down Hononegah in supersectionals
