Deerfield senior right-hander Will Swender has the experience to know what works on the mound and what doesn’t.
Unlike Swender’s younger sister Maddie, who made her varsity debuts in three sports as a freshman this school year, he has been a varsity pitcher for three seasons.
But even with all the tools available to players these days, the 6-foot-3, 180-pound Swender focuses on some pretty straightforward principles.
“It’s all about being consistent and feeling confident that I can throw all three pitches for strikes,” he said. “Having that consistent approach is something I’ve improved at, and I feel confident every time I go out on the mound.”
With Swender on the mound, the Warriors (7-13, 5-5) feel confident, too, which is why the University of Rochester commit almost always gets the nod to pitch in series-opening Central Suburban League South games or games against tough nonconference opponents.
“I love competing, and doing it against top competition can only get you better,” Swender said. “I don’t feel like it’s any extra burden on my shoulders.”
Swender, who was 2-3 with a 2.50 ERA and 35 strikeouts before a game against Maine South was suspended on Monday, has earned wins against perennial state power New Trier and Palatine this season.
“He throws a lot of strikes, and that’s partly a result of him not shying away from hitters,” Deerfield coach Mark Januszewski said. “He’s probably our most consistent pitcher, and probably the most impressive thing about him is how he goes about his business. He’s always trying to get better.”
That’s not lost on the Warriors’ other pitchers. When junior left-hander Liam Connolly wanted to expand his repertoire during the offseason as he prepared to make the jump to the varsity team, he leaned on Swender. Connolly also tries to emulate Swender’s even-keeled manner.
“I was trying to develop a splitter, and he would help me with the grips and how to throw it,” Connolly said. “He would give feedback after every pitch.
“He’s always there to support you because he wants the team to succeed. He’s definitely one of those guys I look up to, almost as a mentor.”
Developing pitches has been an important part of Swender’s success. As a freshman in 2023, he worked on his curveball to the point where he wasn’t at all intimidated when he got the varsity call the next season.
“I feel like that really helped my confidence in facing guys older than me, matching up with my pitches,” he said.
Swender has grown particularly fond of his split-finger fastball, which he doesn’t limit to two-strike counts.
“It’s got some pretty good late downward drop to it, and it generates a lot of swing-and-miss,” he said. “It’s something I can also throw early in counts to get ahead.”
As Swender looks ahead, he has high hopes for the Warriors, whose schedule replete with Class 4A opponents is good preparation for the 3A playoffs. But his baseball career will not end there.
“I first started thinking about pitching in college after my freshman year and into sophomore when I was on varsity,” he said. “We hopefully have a lot more games in us this season because we’re confident we can beat anyone we face. But I’ll look forward to getting there (to Rochester) and competing the same way I have in high school.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.
