BREAKING NEWS: 2013 St. Rita grad, Anthony Ray, has signed a professional contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Anthony Ray, a recent graduate of St. Rita High School, has decided to sign  a contract with the St. Louis Cardinals and has reported to rookie ball. The 6’1 left handed hitting center fielder was a highly sought after prospect with his stellar defense in the outfield and a his lightning quick hands at the plate. His speed may be the most intriguing part of his game adding to a list of athletes the Cardinals acquired in this years’ draft.

Ray is currently on the GCL Cardinals Roster. To view Anthony Ray’s profile click here.

The three-day Major League Baseball draft starts next Thursday, June 6, and when it’s over, look for Mark Payton to be a happy man no matter what happens.

The worst that could happen isn’t all that bad.

The Orland Park native is a junior at Texas and as the draft unfolds, three things could happen.

He could be drafted in the desirable higher rounds.

He could be drafter in the lower rounds.

He might not be drafted at all, although that seems unlikely. One scouting service listed him as the 249th-best prospect available in the draft.

Any of the three scenarios would be OK with Payton, who prepped at St. Rita High School.

“I can’t ask for a better situation right now,” Payton said. “It’s every kid’s dream to wear a Texas jersey. And it’s every kid’s dream to hear their name called in the draft. I’m in a pretty fortunate situation right now.”

Minnesota drafted Payton in the 31st round of the 2010 draft but he chose to honor his commitment to Texas.

Since the left-handed outfielder arrived on campus, he has been a mainstay in the lineup. This year, he made the All-Big 12 Conference team. He batted .393 with 11 doubles, eight triples and 29 RBI while recording nine outfield assists. He led the team with 20 multi-hit games and finished the season with a streak of reaching base safely in 39 straight games.

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For the 11^th time in 12 years, the St. Rita baseball team raised the Regional Championship trophy on Saturday with an 8-4 win over Morton High School.

The road to the regional championship first went through Kennedy HS who the Mustangs beat by a score of 12-0 to bring their record to 29-7 on the year.

Saturday pitted Morton HS vs. St. Rita with the winner advancing to the Reavis Sectional. A strong effort on the mound coupled with a great offensive attack saw the Mustangs come out on top once again and see their win total hit 30.

Mike Constanzo (9-3) was brilliant on the mound going 6 innings, giving up only 1 run on 2 hits. Constanzo kept the Morton hitters off balance all game, tallying 10 strikeouts in the effort.

The offensive attack was provided by many players highlighted by Connor McClain’s 2 run homerun.  Jake Shepski added a 3-3 effort tallying a RBI double. Marty Napleton also paced the Mustangs with 2 doubles of his own.

The Mustangs now will face off against St. Laurence in the Reavis Sectional. The game will be played on Thursday, May 30^th at 4:00pm.

Every year the St. Rita Baseball team seems to be at the top of the standings in the Chicago Catholic League, near the top of the state rankings, and in contention for a state title. One might wonder how a program can sustain such success for such a long time.  Just like a Major League baseball team, everything is built from the ground up. “It starts at the lower levels,” Head Baseball Coach and Athletic Director Mike Zunica stated.” Those programs cultivate and prepare the players for varsity baseball. By the time they get to me, they are polished and ready to compete.”

The question of how St. Rita sustains such long term success was answered this weekend when both the freshmen and sophomore baseball teams took home the Chicago Catholic League Championship. In what is widely known as one of the best conferences in the state of Illinois, the two teams combined for a record of 44-10 on the season and 34-5 in conference play.

Head sophomore baseball coach, Bill Heaney, a 2005 graduate of the baseball program attributes the success to the all around experience St. Rita baseball brings to the players. “This is a program in every definition of the term,” Heaney said. “The players know what a privilege it is to put on the uniform and dream of one day playing for Coach Zunica at the varsity level. That kind of determination and motivation is created by years and years of success at all levels.”

The two championships add to a long list of success the St. Rita program has had over the years. The varsity team, ranked in the top 10, has its sight set on a championship of their own. Coach Zunica believes that winning at the other levels is contagious and can lead to big things for his varsity club. “Winning and losing is contagious, and we have a bunch of winners in this program. Some of these guys will be up with us hopefully helping us win a championship of our own.”

The varsity baseball team is getting ready for the “Do it Stevie’s Way Tournament” held this week and through the weekend. After the tournament, the Mustangs will have their focus on the state playoffs which begins May 22^nd.

Marty Napleton said he was surprised to see coach Mike Zunica flash the squeeze bunt sign in the bottom of the seventh inning of Tuesday’s game against Mount Carmel.

He just wasn’t as surprised as the Caravan.

Napleton’s bunt with one out scored Andrew Massey with the winning run and gave St. Rita a thrilling 7-6 victory.

Considering Napleton, the team’s cleanup hitter, had been swinging a hot stick, with six hits in his previous 12 at-bats with six RBI, the element of surprise was near its apex.

“It was pretty nerve-racking, especially against our hated rival,” said Napleton, a goalie on the Mustangs hockey team. “I just told myself to relax and get in the right mind-set.”

Napleton bunted the first pitch he saw from reliever Nelson Munoz, who made an outstanding barehand pickup but threw wildly past home plate.

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Click below to see a slide show from senior night!

Baseball Senior Night 2013

What a difference 24 hours can make.

After handing No. 1 Lincoln-Way North its first loss of the season Friday by a 1-0 count, Brother Rice received a reality check Saturday compliments of rival St. Rita.

The No. 4 Mustangs pounded out 13 hits and eased past the visiting Crusaders’ 11-0 in a five-inning Catholic League Blue affair.
Every starter in St. Rita’s line-up recorded at least one hit.

“When your team doesn’t come out ready to play, it’s the coach’s fault,” said Brother Rice coach Johnny McCarthy, whose team fell to 16-9, 8-5. “Rita came out ready and pounded the ball.”

The first inning pretty much epitomized the Crusaders afternoon. Freshman Andrew Dyke led off the game against Mustang ace Mike Costanzo with a double. He wasn’t there long as catcher Nate Soria caught Dyke leaning and picked him off.

The very next batter, Luke Liebforth walked. Moments later, Costanzo, a left-hander, picked him off.

“That was kind of deflating,” McCarthy said.

It only got worse from there for Rice.

Connor McLain’s three-run homer was part of a five-run first inning off Rice starter Ian McGinnis.

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St. Rita Head Baseball Coach Mike Zunica and members of the baseball team sat down with MeTV’s Kenny McReynolds to talk about their season. Click the video below to watch the feature.

Teams from around the chicagoland area are being to prepare for some great baseball and to support a great cause. The “Do it Stevie’s Way” tournament will begin on May 16th at on the campuses of Benedictine and Wheaton Academy culminating in the championship game played at Standard Bank Stadium Stadium. The big question is, can our Mustangs repeat? With a field full of ranked teams, it will be great tournament to witness.