By Mike Clark
Another year, another title for Mather baseball.
The Rangers are a rising program in the city under third-year coach Alan Jankowski and demonstrated that once again on Sunday when they beat Steinmetz 13-2 to win the Public League consolation title at UIC’s Granderson Stadium.
J’Anthony Skerrett pitched three-hit ball over 4 1/3 innings for the win and Jeriel Mejias went 3-for-4 with a triple, two runs and four RBI to lead the offense. Leadoff hitter David Goytia reached base three times on a single, walk and hit by pitch, scored two runs and drove in two more.
The Rangers were 5-11 in the first full post-pandemic season in 2022, but have been on the rise since. Last spring, they went 14-0 to capture the third-tier North title and earn promotion to the second-tier National North. They showed they belonged by going 7-5 to take fourth among eight teams in the higher-level conference, and followed that up by beating Bowen, Back of the Yards, Hancock and Steinmetz to win the 16-team consolation bracket. They finished 15-7 overall and are 29-15 over the past two seasons.
“When I took over three years ago, the program was kind of in a shambles,” Mather coach Alan Jankowski said. “We’ve slowly been building it. The seniors this year are a big part of that. … Team chemistry has been off the charts the last few weeks.”It helps to have Mejias and Skerrett providing plenty of pop in the middle of the lineup.
“That’s the heart of our order right there,” Jankowski said. “They’re (also) our top pitchers.
“J’Anthony was getting a little upset because they kept walking him (intentionally, three times). But I told him, ‘That’s just about respect there, they don’t want you hurting them with the bat.'”
Mather is one of several Public League teams that have benefitted from an infusion of talent in the form of Venezuelan migrants. Freshman second baseman Jadier Castillo went 1-for-1 with two walks and two RBI vs. Steinmetz, while sophomore third baseman Enyerson Serrano was 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBI.
“He’s young and has a lot to learn but his skill (set) is one of the best on our team,” Jankowski said of Castillo, who arrived in Chicago just before the start of the season.
With eight starters returning in 2025, the future remains bright for the Rangers.
“We’re going to try to keep building and improve each year,” Jankowski said.
“J’Anthony is the only senior starter that’s graduating. We also lose Colin Phelps. He’s just as big a part of the team even though he doesn’t play as much as he’d like. We’re going to miss those guys.”
Senior catcher Mayller Millan, another Venezuelan migrant, was 1-for-3 and drove in both runs for Steinmetz (18-10-1).
