QUICK READ: North’s Mautone, East’s Striedl receiving looks from Division I

Comments (...)

E-mail this story

Print this story

Comments

Share

Spotting college scouts in the stands during Saturday’s St. Charles East-St. Charles North football game at Norris Stadium proved difficult with all the partisan viewers on hand, but word about seniors from both teams apparently is getting out somehow.

North offensive lineman Matt Mautone, who has played guard and tackle this season after shifting from center during the summer, recently received a letter from Notre Dame. For now, he plans to put it in the pile with all the others as the North Stars aim to make a deep run in the IHSA postseason beginning Saturday.

“It’s flattering and everything, yeah,” Mautone said of the recruitment process, “but I’m buying my time and focusing on the team.”

At East, tight end/defensive lineman Jess Striedl is getting used to the drive to DeKalb. He has been a guest of Northern Illinois twice this season, attending the Huskies’ wins against both Western Illinois and Western Michigan.

“It’s fun to go watch the games up there,” said Striedl, who also is receiving attention from Drake. “It’s a good atmosphere and it’s close to home.”

While he smiled at the idea of being recruited to play both ways, Striedl said NIU would be interested in him offensively because he has a longer high school history there.

Eight men out for glory: The Major League Baseball playoffs began three weeks ago with eight former Cougars positioned for a chance at a World Series ring.

That total has since shrunk to two, with the slim possibility that right-handers A.J. Burnett of the Yankees and Joe Blanton of the Phillies could oppose each other sometime during the Fall Classic that begins Wednesday in New York.

Before examining those pitchers’ postseason plights, here’s a look at how the other six players with Kane County ties have fared. Much like their teams, the going has mostly been tough:

Twins catcher Mike Redmond is the easiest to summarize; he didn’t appear in Minnesota’s three-game loss to the Yankees in the American League Division Series, the backup to All-Star Joe Mauer.

Other ALDS casualties include Red Sox shortstop Alex Gonzalez, who singled and walked in seven plate appearances against the Angels, and Boston righty Josh Beckett, who lost his only start in that series after spacing four runs and five hits in 6 2⁄3 innings.

In the National League, Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier batted .355 (11-for-31) in eight games. His two home runs against the Cardinals in the NLDS helped sweep St. Louis out of the playoffs. Teammate Ronald Belisario, a right-handed reliever, had two postseason holds, while Rockies closer Huston Street registered one save but blew another against the Phillies.

Blanton, whose every appearance seems to draw the description “rubber arm” from broadcasters, appeared twice in relief in the Rockies series before starting Game 4 of the NLCS against the Dodgers.

He took a no-decision, allowing four runs – three earned in six innings. Burnett knows the feeling; he has three no-decisions in as many starts this postseason while compiling a 4.42 ERA in 18 1⁄3 innings.

Whichever player throws for the winning side will win his second career Series. Burnett pitched for the 2003 Marlins while Blanton was part of the Phillies’ championship club last fall.

• Kevin Druley is a sportswriter for The Chronicle. He can be reached at 630-845-5347 or kdruley@kcchronicle.com.

Comments