D'Agata delivers, all over the field

Common courtesy gives high school baseball catchers the chance to take a break from running the basepaths.

Schaumburg's Dominick D'Agata didn't take advantage of the rules that allow catchers to be replaced by a pinch runner any time they reach base.

The Purdue-bound D'Agata would rather have the chance to break up double plays. Which he did twice, leading to runs and keeping innings alive as Schaumburg won consecutive Mid-Suburban League title games for the first time in history.

More Coverage Links The Northwest all-area team

Clean plays from a guy not afraid to get dirty.

"I haven't seen a lot of double plays broken up in our conference," D'Agata said. "The way I've grown up was playing the game the right way.

"That's how I know baseball is played -- playing hard-nosed baseball."

Which usually leads to winning baseball. In the last two of D'Agata's three years as a varsity starter, Schaumburg went 49-14 with consecutive MSL and regional crowns.

This year D'Agata hit .443 with 11 doubles, 7 homers and a team-high 33 RBI. Running games once again usually came to a stop when he was behind the plate.

Throw in D'Agata's leadership and it made him the natural choice as the Cook County honorary captain of the 2008 Daily Herald All-Area baseball team.

"He plays the game the way it should be played," said Schaumburg coach and former Purdue catcher Paul Groot. "He's a very intelligent player who is only going to get better.

"He's been a great leader for us and everybody looks up to him. And he never shies away from taking responsibility."

And D'Agata understood one of his jobs was to make sure everyone else played the game the right way.

"It's important to keep the team up and keep them focused in the game," D'Agata said. "Steve (senior center fielder Mahler) and myself try to keep everyone up and relaxed. Especially at practice -- you don't want to get too tense."

Opposing pitchers certainly did when they saw D'Agata stroll to the plate for his normal routine that included forcefully smoothing the dirt in the left-handed batter's box.

Dave Compitello was usually on base. The powerful Mike Mistrata and George Kalousek were waiting behind D'Agata.

And he was usually going to get the bat on the ball with only 4 strikeouts in 88 at-bats. It put D'Agata in a class with former Schaumburg catching stars Jordan Wolf, Mike Nall, Brian Bahn, Brad Skiff and Gregg Neumann.

"He's one of the best all-around catchers we've had," Groot said. "This kid was the best all-around hitting catcher we've had at Schaumburg. He put up great numbers two years in a row."

D'Agata's production in the No. 2 spot in the order from a catcher was similar to Carlton Fisk with the 1983 White Sox or A.J. Pierzynski this season.

Last year he ended up with a school-record 16 doubles and hit .369 en-route to All-Area honors. He still had 11 doubles and 3 triples this year but more of those gap shots ended up clearing fences.

"Even though teams knew what to expect pitchers like to throw the first-pitch fastball," D'Agata said. "I like to think the whole team definitely benefited."

Although Groot calls the pitches, he doesn't discount D'Agata's effect on the success of Kalousek and Andy Brandt on the mound.

"He's a huge influence because they get along so well and really think together," Groot said. "They know what to expect when the pitch call is made."

Just about the only area where D'Agata's expectations weren't met was in the Saxons' stunning end in the sectional final. He had hoped for another chance to experience the state finals as he did when he was brought up to the varsity as a freshman.

Now D'Agata is gearing up for a future that may include a call in the major-league baseball draft that started Thursday and concludes today.

Tampa Bay has shown significant interest but D'Agata said he will most likely go to Purdue to continue honing his skills.

And he hopes to join the Mid-Suburban League's fraternity of major-league catchers with Tom Lundstedt (Prospect), Sal Fasano (Hoffman Estates), Todd Hundley (Fremd), Dan Wilson (Barrington) and Josh Paul (Buffalo Grove).

"I feel all the work I've put in these years has finally paid off," D'Agata said. "All the numbers and accolades show the work paid off."

Especially when he was doing his own running on the bases instead of relaxing in a dugout.