Marmion started the season a disappointing 2-8, and in the midst of a stretch of six losses in seven games, coach Dave Rakow said he was going to shake things up.
Rakow did just that, calling up a pair of freshmen to give the team a boost. After a 9-2 win over Hampshire on Thursday, the Cadets have won four straight, improving to 6-8.
Brandon McPherson is hitting over .400 since being called up, playing primarily left field. Catcher Chase Stanke started the season on varsity, struggled and was sent to the sophomore team for a while before being called up to varsity again. He’s become the team’s No. 1 catcher.
“Both of them are built like varsity players,” Rakow said. “They’ve been a big spark for us. It’s going to be fun watching those two play the next three years.”
Stanke has taken on one of the most difficult positions to play as a freshman, but Rakow was not worried about the burden he would face.
“Chase is a smart kid,” Rakow said. “He’s been tearing the cover off the ball since he came up. He’s an honor student. He’s like No. 3 in his class. He’s always thinking out there. He’s always anticipating what’s going to happen. It’s very rare that a freshman catcher can handle varsity baseball.”
Junior Jon Young threw eight strong innings in a 6-5, 10-inning win over Batavia on Monday, and he’s been happy with Stanke’s work with the pitching staff.
“He’s doing really well behind the plate,” Young said. “He’s framing everything, blocking everything.”
Big series
Waubonsie Valley vs. Neuqua Valley is always a must-see event no matter the sport or the season.
Next week’s three-game Upstate Eight Valley series between the rivals has a little extra juice to it this year, however.
Both teams ended their series this week at 11-2 in the UEC. Waubonsie is 16-3 overall, while Neuqua is 16-4.
“Now, there’s a lot at stake,” Waubonsie coach Bryan Acevedo said.
The Warriors were happy with their three-game sweep of Bartlett, which gave them seven straight Upstate Eight wins, but their focus immediately turned to two straight weeks against their Indian Prairie rivals. A three-game series with Metea Valley looms in two weeks.
“I know Neuqua is off to a good start, so I know that will be a critical series for the whole conference,” Waubonsie pitcher Jason Neville said.
Batavia bounceback
Coming off of a school-record 32-win season, Batavia struggled out of the gates this season, and injuries played a large role in that rough start.
With five starters out, the Bulldogs suffered through a seven-game losing streak. They stood at 1-7, including a three-game sweep at the hands of St. Charles East in the Upstate Eight River opening week.
Finally healthy, the Bulldogs have won nine straight UEC River games, sweeping Larkin, West Chicago and Elgin to crawl to 10-10.
Just when they got back healthy, however, the Bulldogs did suffer an injury this week. Andrew Costigan, who took over for Sean Townsend for a while at third base after he was hit by a line drive in the wrist, was hitting .538 when he broke his hand and exited the lineup.
Batavia faces rival Geneva in a three-game set this week.
Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
