From hitting five batters in a row as a freshman to becoming one of the state's top pitchers and a Notre Dame recruit—Connor Elenteny's journey is a testament to growth, grit, and the power of believing in the process.
Back in his freshman year at Mount Carmel, Elenteny was a three-sport athlete who was decent at everything but didn't stand out in any one area. "I was just throwing as hard as I could and I had no idea where it was going," he recalls with a laugh. "Freshman year against St. Rita, I plunked five hitters in a row. No idea."
Fast forward three years, and that same right-hander is now a senior ace headed to the University of Notre Dame. His latest start against the same St. Rita squad couldn't have been more different. On Wednesday, Elenteny threw 5 2/3 strong innings, striking out five and allowing just two runs to lead the Caravan to a 6-2 Catholic League Blue victory in Chicago.
"He's gotten a lot more competitive," says senior catcher Mario Medina, a Davenport recruit. "He knows how to work in counts and stay in the zone. Since freshman year, everything's changed."
Elenteny's evolution isn't just about velocity—it's about smart pitching. "I used to be a guy that just throws hard," he explains. "Coach (Brian) Hurry doesn't like that. He's taught me to do what I can to get outs and go as deep into the game as possible. You don't have to throw it as hard as you can every pitch."
That maturity paid off against a tough St. Rita lineup. Lewis recruit Jake Matise closed out the game with 1 1/3 perfect innings for the save. Wake Forest commit TJ McQuillan singled and scored twice, while Illinois recruit Anthony Chavez and Cylis Rainey each drove in a run. For St. Rita, Vinny Stubitsch delivered a two-run single, and Aden Gutierrez and Heartland recruit Colin Quinn each had a hit and scored.
For Elenteny, the transformation from wild freshman to polished Notre Dame-bound pitcher is a story of hard work and trust in the process. As he puts it: "I would not have expected to be where I'm at." But for those watching him now, it's no surprise at all.