Josh Adamczewski typically bats cleanup for Lake Central.
But coach Mike Swartzentruber decided to move Adamczewski to the second spot in the order at Valparaiso on Wednesday in an attempt to get him better pitches to hit.
“I don’t know if it was some of that brilliant managing, but it worked out,” Swartzentruber said with a grin. “He’s great. Fantastic.”
Adamczewski went 4-for-4 as the Indians came away with an 11-6 Duneland Athletic Conference win.
The junior second baseman had a run-scoring triple and a run-scoring double, and the latter snapped a 5-5 tie in the fifth inning to give Lake Central (8-3, 5-1), ranked No. 6 in the Class 4A state coaches poll, the lead for good against the Vikings (4-4, 3-3). He also walked and scored three runs.
Adamczewski, who has drawn recruiting interest from Big Ten and Mid-American Conference programs, impressed Valparaiso coach Todd Evans.
“You look at it, he was a home run away from the cycle,” Evans said. “He’s very good.”
Lake Central’s Brenden Smith went 3-for-3 with two walks and four RBIs, including a two-run single in the first to open the scoring and a run-scoring double in the sixth to make it 7-5. Lake Central gained a cushion by adding four runs in the seventh, batting around.
Right-hander Conor Pangburn picked up the win. The Purdue Northwest recruit allowed five runs, four of which were earned, on eight hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in five innings.
Thomas Vo paced Valparaiso with three hits, including a leadoff homer and a run-scoring triple in the seventh.
“Our offense is pretty good,” Swartzentruber said. “When you hit like that, it covers up some of your scars.
“We’re a streaky team. … When we have a couple guys get a hit, the next thing you know, everybody hits. The confidence goes up. I get that. But we’re going to have to have better at-bats regardless if you’re getting hits.”
In the Indians’ 4-1 loss to Valparaiso on Tuesday, Adamczewski didn’t have an official at-bat. He walked three times and was hit by a pitch in four plate appearances.
He pushed his batting average to .606 with 13 RBIs on Wednesday.
“I just swing the bat,” Adamczewski said. “I don’t think about anything. I’ve been swinging the bat well and driving in runs, like I’m supposed to do. My discipline has gotten a lot better at the plate.”
Indeed, Adamczewski has drawn a team-high 11 walks and has struck out only once.
He hit .470 with 23 RBIs last season.
“He’s just a hitter,” Swartzentruber said. “He doesn’t expand the zone. He knows the zone. He swings at strikes. He’s good with two strikes. A lot of things high school kids struggle with, he doesn’t.
“He’s strong. He has a textbook left-handed swing. He’s just a player.”
Lake Central remains in first place in the conference.
“We’re still in front,” Swartzentruber said. “We kind of control our own destiny. That’s where we wanted to be. Obviously we would’ve liked to have swept and really been in control of our destiny.
“I don’t love the way we’re playing. But if you can find ways to beat good teams when you’re not playing well, that bodes well.”
