As a junior last season, Zacharia Barkho was the ace who fueled South Elgin to a sectional title.
With that intense playoff run, however, came an increased workload.
It was hard to blame the Storm for saddling up Barkho down the stretch. He went 8-2 with a 1.29 ERA but also threw 68 innings in the process. He went into the offseason in recovery mode.
“The summer was more getting my arm in shape — lot of pitching last year,” Barkho said. “It was a lot of recovery, just trying to get my velo up, stuff like that. I think it went well.
“My first bullpen went well. My arm is feeling a lot better. I’m ready to play.”
David Palmer, a 2013 South Elgin graduate, takes over for the only coach the program has ever had in Jim Kating, who retired. Palmer was an assistant last season at St. Charles North.
As a result, Palmer followed Barkho’s success.
“I know he pitched a heck of a lot of innings last year,” Palmer said. “I think we’re going to be a little cautious with him early in the season. It’s nice because we have the pitching depth to do it, keep him fresh.
“Our goal is that we want to be playing our best ball in the middle of May. He understands that too.”
One thing Palmer noticed right away wasn’t just Barkho’s talent but his energy. He was the engine that kept South Elgin going last spring.
“He’s got that edge out here,” Palmer said. “When things aren’t going his way, he competes. If he doesn’t have his best stuff, it doesn’t matter. He’ll still go and put it all out there for us.”
That role suits Barkho just fine.
“I’m a loud guy,” he said. “When I’m loud, my teammates get loud. When they’re loud, I get loud. All it takes is one guy to start it and everyone follows in behind. That’s what we did last year.
“We could be down. Doesn’t matter. We stay loud. We keep going.”
Nathan Robertson has been Barkho’s catcher the past few seasons. Nathan and his twin brother, Joshua, are also close friends with Barkho. All three are planning on playing together next season at Elgin Community College.
Nathan Robertson had the best seat in the house for Barkho’s breakout season.
“I’ve seen him progress since he was a freshman,” Nathan said. “I’ve seen him develop from throwing 75 to like 85 now. It’s really great. He’s a real ace for us. He’s progressed so well, especially during the postseason, clutch moments every time he pitched.
“The quality pitches he makes, hits his spots. I’ve got his back and he’s got mine.”
Last season, the Storm were trying to win for Kating, to send him out on top. Now, it’s a whole new coaching staff. Barkho and his teammates have embraced Palmer from the start.
“First thing he said when he took over was, I was a player under Kating just like you guys,” Barkho said. “He still has Kating’s way with him. We see it in him.”
Palmer leaned on the former coaching staff so he could hit the ground running this season.
“I did my due diligence, talked to (Ben) Erickson and Kating, did as much scouting as I could,” Palmer said. “By the time I got here in the fall, I pretty much knew every kid in the program.
“Something always felt missing when I was at North. Now, I feel like I have that missing piece.”
What Palmer inherited is a veteran group eager to build on last season’s success.
“Last year was kind of like we dipped our toes in it,” Barkho said. “This year, we want it all. We’re trying to get it. These boys are hungry.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
