A high bar was established for Lake Central sophomore left fielder Jacob Forystek.
But Forystek managed to clear it as the Indians advanced to the Class 4A state championship game.
“I don’t know if I would usually say he’s exceeded expectations,” Lake Central coach Mike Swartzentruber said. “He’s had a great year, but I don’t know if I’d use that word because I had high expectations for him. But he’s produced, for sure.”
Indeed, Forystek is hitting .372 with a homer, a team-high 41 RBIs, 40 runs scored and 12 stolen bases as the Indians (27-8) get set to play No. 10 Bloomington South (25-6) at Victory Field in Indianapolis at 7 p.m. Saturday.
But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Forystek, who recalls the turning point for him this season.
“I had to talk to myself,” he said. “It was the 16th game, we were playing Portage, I was batting .268 and I was like, ‘I have to change something.’ And ever since that day — that week I hit .680 — and ever since then, I just tried carrying the momentum, and I just had a lot of success. It’s just consistency right now.”
Batting cleanup, Forystek has maintained that lofty level, going 6-for-11 with five RBIs and four runs scored in the past three games. He went 2-for-4 with a two-run triple in the first inning of Lake Central’s victory against postseason nemesis Penn in the semistate final to “really set the tone for that game,” according to Swartzentruber.
Following that win, the Indians are in position to win their second state title in three seasons and third overall.
“Going into the season, I was like, ‘All right, everybody’s thinking you should be good,’” Forystek said. “So I was a little nervous because I was like, ‘OK, I have to perform,’ and I wasn’t. But then I really sat down, and finally these last 19 games, I’m hitting like .480, and I’m playing to my full ability. It just feels great.”
Forystek laid the foundation last season. He flourished on the junior varsity team, earned a late-season call-up and was included on the roster for the sectional.
“We knew going into this year, after graduating 13 seniors, he had a great opportunity,” Swartzentruber said. “It was similar to (junior catcher Brayden) Walls and some other guys that not only were going to have a chance to play, but we thought he was going to be a guy that was going to be productive in our lineup.
“He’s driven in over 40 runs as a sophomore. It’s very comforting knowing you’re going to have that type of production back for two more years. He’s played a good outfield. He has a chance to be a really good player in this program. He already is. He just has to keep working, getting better. He’s been great, and hopefully he has one more productive game in him Saturday.”
Forystek has also impressed sophomore left-hander Owen Kopercinski.
“He’s great,” Kopercinski said. “Great hitter. Always has his confidence up. Always picking up teammates. He’s just doing him out there, just playing his style.”
Forystek, who aspires to play at Texas A&M, hopes to show that style against Bloomington South. Lake Central has won 13 straight games and 19 of 21.
“Look at us now,” Forystek said. “We’re on the run of a lifetime. We couldn’t have planned it any better. People thought we were going to be a bust, and now we’re playing for a state championship on Saturday, Victory Field. We couldn’t have written it any better.
“I’m grateful to be here. I’m going to try and enjoy every moment as best I can.”
