After record-setting '07, bar raised at Geneva

Can you name the high school baseball player who hit a walk-off home run in the season opener, drove in a pair of runs with a perfectly executed suicide squeeze bunt and recorded a save in his role as closer -- all in just seven games while also providing leadership as the team's starting catcher?

Need a hint?

He's a three-year varsity starter who helped his team capture its first conference and regional championships last season while also establishing a new single-season victory mark.

And he's a huge Chicago White Sox fan who calls catcher A.J. Pierzynski his favorite player.

Meet Ryan Payne -- Geneva's underrated but vastly important senior catcher, who has played a significant role behind the team's fast 7-2 start this spring.

"It's nice to have a catcher you can rely on -- and that your pitchers can rely on," said Vikings coach Matt Hahn. "When pitchers throw balls in the dirt, they know that he'll block them."

Perhaps no position on a baseball diamond is less glamorous than the catcher's.

He's asked to do a lot of things -- ranging from showing signs for pitchers to sacrificing his body to keep errant pitches from getting past him; from acting as a conduit between pitcher and umpire to throwing out would-be base stealers.

And he's asked to do most of his work from a crouched position for a couple hours -- while occasionally shaking off foul balls that ricochet off any number of exposed body parts.

It makes me think of the line from the song, "Superman," by Five For Fighting that says…

'It's not easy to be me.'

Payne wouldn't have it any other way.

"I feel it's (catching) the most important position on the field," said the senior who set school records for most putouts and most chances last season while committing just three errors in 291 opportunities.

"On a day to day basis, it's such a grind. Sometimes, I think it (catching) goes unnoticed."

Not by his own coach, however.

"It's a position where you know when the catcher makes an error," said Hahn. "But there are a lot of other times where catchers make great blocks and do other good things to save games or save runs -- things that aren't always visible in the box score the next day."

Thanks in large part to Payne and pitchers Brad Allen, Louis Trimble, Chris Jordan and Rod Nelson, the Vikings finished 24-12 a year ago while sporting a team ERA of 1.84.

"Part of that success starts with our pitching staff," said Hahn. "But when you're talking about your pitchers, you also have to think about your catcher, too.

"We're off to a 7-2 start this season and a lot of it has to do with our pitchers and Ryan (Payne)."

Two years ago as a sophomore, Payne was moved to third base while backing up all-conference senior catcher Nick Herrera.

Last spring, Payne earned the role as starting catcher -- a position he has come to enjoy after spending many years playing shortstop.

"I love playing shortstop," said Payne, "but catching has become my favorite position. You're involved with every pitch -- that's what I love about it."

Hahn loves Payne's versatility.

"He's the kind of kid you can put at just about any position on the field -- and he'll excel," said the coach. "The other day (Saturday) he pitched two innings to pick up a save against Burlington Central."

After hitting out of the two-hole most of the time last season, Payne has dropped down to the No. 5 spot this spring with the intention of providing additional run production while batting behind leadoff man extraordinaire Kevin Massoth, No. 2 man Michael Grandenitti, hard-hitting junior first baseman Cory Hofstetter and left-handed clean-up hitter Ryan Adams.

"We stress pitching and defense," said Hahn. "We'll find ways to score runs."

Like against Marmion last month when Payne laid down a 2-RBI suicide squeeze bunt.

"You have to be able to bunt and hit to the right side," said Hahn, whose team wears a bigger target on its back this spring.

"It was great to be a part of school history as the first team to win conference and regional titles last year," said Payne. "But it definitely raises the bar for us this year."