Ryan Jones’ Remarkable Return Boosts St. Rita’s Playoff Run

Ryan Jones faced a significant hurdle when he required surgery on his right wrist just before the playoffs. The usual assumption was that St. Rita would have to proceed without him. But Jones, a junior infielder and pitcher, had different plans. Initially aiming for a return if the Mustangs reached state, he managed to rejoin earlier to aid their journey.

“It feels great,” Jones expressed. “Since my surgery, I’ve been focused on returning to support the team. It’s incredible.”

Jones came back for the Class 3A Crestwood Supersectional. He reached base three times in St. Rita’s 2-0 win over Nazareth, contributing a single and drawing two walks. St. Rita, holding a 28-12 record, will face East Peoria (27-13) at 10 a.m. Friday in the state semifinal at Slammers Stadium in Joliet.

Coach John Nee was hopeful for Jones’ return if they reached state, but Monday’s surprise appearance exceeded expectations. Despite stitches, Jones performed significantly. “He texted me asking to take swings,” Nee recalled. “We practiced in the cage. I called his dad to ensure everything was okay. He was ready to go even before the stitches came out.”

Determined to join his team, Jones faced some pain. “My team motivated me to overcome adversity and be my best,” Jones said. As one of St. Rita’s leading hitters, Jones boasts a .473 batting average, with 33 RBIs, 24 runs, and eight doubles. As a reliever, he holds a 2-0 record with a 2.80 ERA over ten appearances.

Jones returned as a cleanup hitter, thrilling his teammates. Julio Gutierrez, excelling in the playoffs, was particularly pleased. “Ryan’s back,” Gutierrez noted. “Having him adds strength to our lineup.”

Jones overcame his initial disappointment about his injury. Watching practice was challenging but he enjoyed being with the team. “I just made the best of the situation until ready,” he said.

Rejoining for a high-stakes game was demanding but Jones embraced it. “I worried about my performance but was mostly excited to play in front of a big crowd,” he shared.

St. Rita has secured its fifth state trophy and first since 2019. They’re two victories away from their first state championship. “At the year’s start, I felt our potential,” Jones remarked. “We’re close now. We need to keep hitting strong and maintain our pitching.”