Mount Carmel’s Ian Tosi said there’s a big difference between the regular season and the playoffs.
The sophomore left-hander also confirmed he gets nervous in the postseason.
“I have a lot more adrenaline and I’m more amped up,” Tosi said. “Honestly, when I throw a fastball, I get behind it more. I feel like I’m a little more wild because I’m so nervous out there.”
The way things are going, its opposing hitters who should be nervous.
In two playoff starts, Tosi has thrown 12 shutout innings, including seven in Wednesday’s 3-0 victory over league rival Brother Rice in the Class 4A Reavis Sectional semifinals in Burbank.
Tosi struck out four and allowed just three hits and three walks for the Caravan (19-14). Louisville recruit TJ McQuillan and Mario Medina each drove in runs, while Brady Holland added two hits.
Danny Sheehan gave up just one earned run for the Crusaders (20-18), who were trying to make their third straight trip to the state semifinals.
Mount Carmel plays at 11 a.m. Saturday for the sectional title against Nazareth (37-0), which won the last two Class 3A state titles before being bumped up this year to 4A. The Roadrunners beat St. Ignatius 5-0 in the other semifinal.
Tosi may have been nervous, but he did a masterful job of pitching. It was just the third time in 2024 that Brother Rice was shut out.
Mount Carmel’s TJ McQuillan connects against Brother Rice to drive in the first run of the game during the Class 4A Reavis Sectional semifinals in Burbank on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
“I believe most athletes do have nervous butterflies, and that’s totally normal and totally natural,” Mount Carmel coach Brian Hurry said. “To be able to contain those emotions is the challenge.
“If Ian didn’t have butterflies, I would be more worried.”
Tosi had an extra reason for being fired up for this game. As a freshman last spring, he gave up a bases-loaded walk in the seventh inning as Brother Rice pulled off a 6-5 victory in the Young Regional final. The Crusaders went on to take second place in the state.
This season, Tosi didn’t get to pitch against Brother Rice in Catholic League Blue play, so Wednesday offered the first chance to redeem himself.
Mount Carmel’s Timmy Harrigan (4) slides into third base against Brother Rice during the Class 4A Reavis Sectional semifinals in Burbank on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
“They weren’t beating me again,” Tosi said. “I came out here knowing we were going to win. We came out with the confidence we were going to win. I wasn’t going to let them beat be again.
“I didn’t want them to beat me again. I would have been sad for a long time if they beat me again. The whole season, I was waiting for this game right here.”
Surprisingly, he was able to get some sleep before the big game, even with revenge on the line.
“I had a good night’s sleep,” Tosi said. “But before I fell asleep, I couldn’t stop thinking about the game. I got lucky that I did fall asleep.”
Mount Carmel’s Ian Tosi reacts after the final out against Brother Rice during the Class 4A Reavis Sectional semifinals in Burbank on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
McQuillan liked what he saw out of Tosi on the mound.
“He’s always great,’ McQuillan said of Tosi. “He throws strikes, and he always gives us a chance to win. He uses his command really well. He throws his change-up perfectly.
“He’s able to keep hitters off-balance.”
Coming up next will be a huge challenge for the Caravan as Nazareth is battle-tested. The move up to 4A hasn’t seemed to phase the Roadrunners.
McQuillan said he did some offseason hitting with Landon Thome, son of MLB legend Jim Thome, and fellow Louisville recruit Jaden Fauske. McQuillan said they are “cool guys.”
“Everyone knows Nazareth and their record,” he said. “But I think we’re really hot right now, and when we’re playing well, we can beat any team in the state and probably any team in the country.
“If we play the right way, we got it.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
