With some key innings needing to be replaced, senior right-hander Nathan Napolitano noticed there was an opportunity that he could take advantage of this season for Waubonsie Valley.
Still, it has been a long way to the top for Napolitano.
Last season, he pitched on the junior varsity as the Warriors won a sectional title. But on Monday afternoon, he was handed the ball for his first varsity start in his team’s season opener in Aurora.
“I was excited to get the start,” Napolitano said. “I was also a little nervous, but it felt good being out there. I was a little wild, but I also found it and felt pretty good.”
Napolitano had a pretty nice debut, working four innings and striking out four while scattering three hits and allowing an unearned run on one hit in a 6-2 nonconference win over St. Charles East.
Oakland recruit Shane Torres went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs for Waubonsie (1-0), while Scott Gillen went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and a steal.
Tyler Phillips produced an RBI double for the Saints (1-1). Kyle LaRose singled twice.
Napolitano, meanwhile, walked the leadoff hitter of the game but quickly settled in. He allowed the unearned run in the second inning but then recovered to retire the final five batters he faced.
“It was great,” Waubonsie coach Bryan Acevedo said. “Nathan was a guy, he walked a few, but the thing we loved about him all offseason is that he just throws strikes.
“He just throws a whole bunch of strikes. That’s something we preach. We wanted to give him the game ball in the first game, and he did a good job of going four for us.”
After falling behind 1-0, Waubonsie responded with a four-run bottom of the second inning to take the lead for good.
The highlight was a rocket double to center field by Torres that scored two runs, including Gillen, the Warriors’ new leadoff hitter.
“He just keeps getting better,” Acevedo said of Torres. “He hits the ball hard. I think those two at the top are going to be pretty special for us this year. We’re fortunate that they’re both juniors.
“Looking for them to have a big year. If they can get going, we have a shot with this offense.”
Andrew Evans pitched three innings for the Saints, allowing four unearned runs. He struck out three and only allowed three hits with two walks.
“I know the things he can do for us,” St. Charles East coach Derek Sutor said. “It’s going to come. He’s somebody who we can trust to pound the zone. That’s him.
“Credit to those guys for putting the ball in play hard.”
Buoyed by the lead, Napolitano got into the groove and held down the Saints’ offense.
“He hit his spots well,” Sutor said. “He kept sawing us off. It was hard to make contact on him. He hit his spots and kept us off-balance. We just have to tip our cap to him.”
After missing last season with Tommy John surgery, Cameron Delahoussaye pitched the final three innings in relief of Napolitano.
In his first action since the 2024 season, Delahoussaye struck out three and allowed an unearned run on three hits and two walks.
“He was somebody we had some plans for last season and obviously Tommy John got him,” Acevedo said. “It was great to give him the ball with the lead and let him figure it out a little bit.
“It was awesome to see him out there after a long journey.”
Acevedo was pleased to see two potential key pieces to the pitching staff have immediate success, starting with Napolitano.
“He’s definitely in the mix because he just throws strikes,” Acevedo said. “He throws three pitches for a strike, keeps hitters off-balance. He’ll factor in one way, shape or form.
“We put him out there because we had confidence in him.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
