After struggling as a sophomore, Harvest-Westminster’s Elias Vaagen had to rediscover himself.
The junior second baseman has turned things around this season, however, getting his career back on track. And the reason for that turnaround actually sounds quite simple.
“It’s been more fun,” said Vaagen, who emerged for the Lions with a solid freshman season on the varsity but then took a step back last spring. “It was totally a mindset thing.
“I was batting in the nine hole last year. They moved me up to the two hole. I like that challenge.”
Vaagen kept his hot season going Thursday afternoon, doubling twice, scoring three times and driving in three runs in a 15-5 nonconference victory in six innings over host St. Edward in Elgin.
Brennan O’Donnell added three hits, including a double, and also scored three runs for Harvest-Westminster (22-6). Tommy Neubert tripled and had three RBIs. Ryan St. Louis scored twice with two RBIs. Jameson Rapinchuk chipped in with two hits and scored two runs.
Lucas Buckardt came through with two hits and two RBIs for St. Edward (3-25). Aiden Burchill added two hits and JT Birns contributed two RBIs.
A year after barely hanging onto a spot in the lineup, Vaagen has been one of the Lions’ leaders.
“He’s really turned it around from last year,” Harvest-Westminster coach Matthew Schulenburg said. “He had kind of a struggle with us last year and he’s had a bounce-back year.
“He’s having a great season.”
The numbers bear that out. Vaagen is hitting .465 with 40 hits, 11 doubles and 31 RBIs, all team highs. He’s also scored 35 runs, stolen 19 bases and gone 4-0 on the mound in a relief role.
With his team-leading .566 on-base percentage and his speed on the bases, he’s become a dangerous hitter atop the Harvest-Westminster batting order.
“He’s just a gap-to-gap power guy,” Schulenburg said. “He doesn’t look like much up there, but he can hit the ball pretty solidly. On the bases, he’s a threat too. He’s got some wheels out there.
“He’s a guy that you do not want on base and he just keeps finding a way to get on. He’s just been a great hitter for us.”
That’s been the case up and down the Lions’ lineup this season. They have a relentless attack and nearly everyone on the team can run, so they put a lot of pressure on teams.
In 28 games, they have scored 274 runs.
“I like being in the top of the lineup,” Vaagen said. “I get on base and I get around the bases and they can all knock me in. Last year wasn’t like that.”
Schulenburg is happy to see the offense clicking as well.
“It makes my job easy as a coach,” Schulenburg said. “These guys are just team ball. They’re hitting the ball everywhere and when they get on base they’re threats. They move well.
“They’re just playing great.”
Vaagen delivered an RBI double as part of a four-run first inning Thursday for Harvest-Westminster, leading to an early 6-0 lead. St. Edward didn’t go away quietly, though.
The Green Wave put up five runs in the fourth to cut the lead to 6-5. Two-run singles from Birns and Buckardt highlighted the rally.
“We’ve done a lot of that these last couple weeks,” St. Edward coach Mike Aydt said. “I think we’re better than our record indicates. We just have to put it all together.
“The guys don’t quit, and that’s a positive thing to see.”
Following last season, Vaagen knew he had to get things back on track.
The results, so far, speak for themselves.
“I worked hard in the offseason, so I expected it,” he said.
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
