At the top tier of travel and prep baseball, specialization is the rule.
Elite hurlers usually don’t do anything else, and are designated as “PO” (pitcher only) on rosters.
Kennedy junior Mason Rychetsky understands the policy, but he also appreciates an opportunity to do more this season for the Crusaders. With a productive bat, he hits cleanup and went 3-for-3 with a triple, a walk, a run and an RBI in an 8-3 win over visiting Hancock on March 26.
Rychetsky’s role was mostly limited to pitching a year ago. Now he feels more engaged in the game.
“When I was a PO I was kind of just sitting on the bench cheering, ‘Nice game today,'” he said.
His offseason to-do list included getting better as both a pitcher and hitter.
“Just fine-tuning my mechanics and fixing my swing, because I really didn’t hit the ball a lot last year,” he said.
Rychetsky’s summer on the travel-ball circuit with Sparks North Black 2027 raised his profile. He made the recently released Rawlings/Perfect Game Underclassmen All-American honorable-mention list.
“It’s really great to have that as a part of (my resume),” Rychetsky said. “But really, I’m gonna put my head down and keep working. I’ve gotta get better.”
Still, he’s already one of the premier pitchers in the Public League. The Crusaders, who were 2-2 coming into this week, will lean on him as they move up to the top-tier Jackie Robinson South after winning the second-tier American South three years in a row.
“That’s exciting for him,” Kennedy coach Mario Silva said of Rychetseky’s All-American honor. “For sure, he’s a talent. He’s got the stuff.”
Rychetsky’s pitch mix includes four-seam and two-seam fastballs, a changeup and a curveball. He said he’s been clocked as fast as 94 mph and sits between 88 and 90.
As far as his hitting is concerned, Silva said, “I think his swing has always been good. … I like to keep him involved. I don’t want to sit him out (when he’s not pitching) like a PO at traditional powerhouses. So we’ll use him at third base, we’ll use him at first base. …
“But at that next level, he’s probably going to be a pitcher … and so for us, our responsibility is to keep him injury-free and give him opportunities.”
Hancock, which was 1-5 entering this week, is hoping to take advantage of Kennedy’s promotion and win the American South.
The Eagles are led by senior first baseman/pitcher Ryan Ostrowski, who is committed to NAIA Judson but has received recent Division I interest from Western Michigan, according to coach Rich Petroski.
“We’re young,” Petroski said. “I’ve only got two seniors. It’s coming