May 12, 2022
Ben Gutowski spent his summers playing baseball for the Evanston Orange Cats—ETHS’s feeder program—from the time he was ten all the way up until the beginning of his freshman year. Now a pitcher and starting outfielder on the varsity team, Gutowski will continue his athletic and academic career at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis., come this fall.
“I mean, I always knew I wanted to play baseball in college, and then Coach Krepline at Lawrence told me I should come take a look and I went. I really liked the campus, I really liked all the guys on the team, and I liked just kind of the feel of everything up there. I liked it a lot, and then I decided to commit late December, so that was super cool and I’m happy about it,” says Gutowski.
Upon moving into college this fall, Gutowski will find himself surrounded by a whole new set of people, leaving the support that many in Evanston have offered. Knowing this, there is an immense feeling of gratitude Gutowski has towards the people who have helped get him to the point.
“Coach Consiglio, Coach D’Amato, Coach Knudsen—they’ve all known me for a really, really long time, and they all are super involved not just on the baseball field but [off of it]. They want to make sure I’m doing [well in] everything I need to do as a young man and a young person as well,” explains Gutowski. “They’ve all been really positive influences in their own ways, and I’m definitely super grateful for all three of them.”
And don’t get him started on his teammates.
“I love the team. I loved the team last year, I love the team this year,” Gutowski affirms. “Just seeing them as much as you see them and doing stuff with them—like not just baseball…It’s an experience. I wouldn’t trade for the world.”
Although today may be his last day at Evanston, Gutowksi still has a few weeks left with the baseball program, and he has a lot to look forward to. In fact, this Saturday, May 14, the team will celebrate senior day as the Kits square-off against Deerfield. Only after playing five games next week (weather permitting) do playoffs begin. Then, Gutowski will look to finally realize the dream that all Evanston baseball players have dreamed for as long as they can remember.
A state championship.
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