Max Fried and Harvard-Westlake carry on without Lucas Giolito

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif – The dynamic duo. The talented tandem. The prized pair.

Optimism was sky high for Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.) pitching stars Lucas Giolito and Max Fried at the start of the season. The high-profile senior pitchers were expected to give the Wolverines a one-two punch that could rival, essentially trump, any combination in the country.

Giolito, however, suffered a season-ending injury to his right elbow in the first week of play. At that point, skepticism entered the picture, of course. How could it not? The 6-foot-6 righthander and UCLA commit was one of the nation's premier prospects. Given the immense upside he possessed, Giolito was considered to be a sure-fire selection in June's 2102 MLB Draft.

In the wake of the situation, Fried carried on. The 6-5 lefthander, also a UCLA commit, has emerged as the ace of the staff. As a result, the Wolverines (14-3-1 overall) have not missed a beat and remain a fixture in the Maxpreps Xcellent 25 National Baseball Rankings as the No. 24 team in nation.

"We went through a week when it was tough around here at school, things were not going very well," Harvard-Westlake coach Matt LaCour said. "You go from having two of the best players in the country in your starting rotation, to having one. Give our guys credit, they have recovered and Max has been a big help in that respect. He has become a leader for us on and off the field.

"We faced adversity early in the season. Every team goes through a stage when things don't go your way. That's part of the game. I think the kids on this team know that. They understand how things work. They have been resilient. They have responded well. We're a battle-tested group these days. We're playing better baseball right about now. I think that's the only thing that matters."

Nevertheless, running out on the field on a weekly basis without a player the caliber of Giolito is a particularly difficult loss to overcome. LaCour readily admits to that fact. Before the injury, Giolito was ranked No. 1 by Maxpreps in its 2012 Top 100 baseball players list.

Giolito is currently rehabbing his sprained ulnar collateral ligament. He is not expected to be back in action for the Wolverines this year. Moreover, Giolito and his family have not been forthcoming about the extent of the injury. Reports on his progress have been limited.

LaCour said things are going according to plan and Giolito does not figure to have any problems in the near future. The goal for him is to be fully recovered in plenty of time to improve his big league stock, or head to Westwood and play for the Bruins if he decides to go that route.

"Lucas is one of my best friends and he's had a positive attitude through this whole process," Fried said. "He's working hard. He wants to be healthy as soon as possible. He's dedicated. He is not going to use the injury as an excuse. Lucas will be the same pitcher he was when it's over."

Fried, on the other hand, is no slouch. Far from it. He is No. 5 in the Maxpreps player rankings and also projects well in the draft if UCLA is not in his immediate plans.

Fried ended up at Harvard-Westlake after a transfer from nearby Montclair Prep (Van Nuys, Calif.), which eliminated athletics last season. He has appeared to fit in just fine with the Wolverines since arriving on campus.

"With Lucas injured, we're lucky to have Max around,'' LaCour said. "He's not a fall-back option in any stretch of the imagination. Most teams would love to have him on the roster.

"Max uses both sides of plate, and when he's on and all of his pitches are working, he dominates. The one thing about Max is he projects well at the next level, whether it be in college or the big leagues. He has a bright future ahead of him. We're just happy we have him the rest of the year."

In the meantime, all signs point to Harvard-Westlake being focused on the task at hand. Approaching the all-important home stretch of the season, the Wolverines are in the midst of a tight race for first place in the Mission League standings with rival Loyola (Los Angeles). Also in the mix is third-place Alemany (Mission Hills, Calif.), which is a game behind the Wolverines.

Beyond that, the CIF Southern Section playoffs are the next order of business for Harvard-Westlake. The Wolverines are ranked No. 3 in Division II play. Redlands, Cypress and Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.) loom as threats once postseason play begins in mid-May.

When Giolito was healthy, Harvard-Westlake was the front-runner to win a championship. Without him, and Fried shouldering the burden, it appears as if a title is still attainable.

"At one point, our rotation was about as good as it gets, on par with any staff in the county," LaCour said. "Having Lucas and Max made my job as a coach much easier. We have moved on though. The past was great, but to be successful, you have to keep looking toward the future."