Baseball: Charlie Parcell, Cook County All-Area Captain
Baseball is a game built on failure.
Unless you are Maine West's Charlie Parcell.
"I just don't think he believes in it," Maine West coach Mike Randazzo said. "The tougher the moment, the more he bears down."
Parcell, a three-year starter for Maine West, said that he doesn't think failure is ever an option.
"Every day the goal is to be the best on the field," Parcell said. "I know my competition and I was confident in myself to get a win every Tuesday when I pitched. I also have been seeing the ball really well when I am at bat."
Parcell's numbers were eye-popping this season while leading the Warriors to a share on the Central Suburban North title.
He batted .570 with an on-base percentage of .660 and a slugging percentage of .819. He had 47 hits, scored 25 runs and had 29 RBI. He homered once, had five triples and 18 stolen bases.
That was just at the plate.
On the bump, he was 8-0 with an ERA of 1.04. Parcell had 89 strikeouts in 53 innings pitched and a WHIP of 1.18.
He has been a leader on and off the field with his attitude toward his teammates, coaches and opponents, according to Randazzo.
"He is a great kid," said Randazzo, who has Parcell in his business class. "He is just always looking to get better and succeed. I had so much confidence in him that he was the only pitcher that could shake off signs. He could triple in one at-bat and then get a bunt single in the next."
Randazzo said that Parcell was dominant all season long.
"I feel like he went 5-for-5 in every game," Randazzo said. "I have not seen a season where someone was so dominant on both sides of the ball."
Based on all of this, Parcell is the Captain of the Daily Herald Cook County All-Area Baseball Team.
Parcell has been a stalwart for the Warriors since he moved up to the varsity as a sophomore after his freshman season was canceled due to the pandemic. He hit .320 in his sophomore year.
Parcell took a huge step in his junior year. He earned Daily Herald All-Area honors when he hit .520 with an OBP of .598 and a slugging percentage of .680. He was 2-2 as a pitcher with 53 strikeouts in 36 innings and an ERA of 1.71.
Parcell is 6-foot and 175 pounds and is a lefty on the mound and at the plate. He has been clocked in the mid-80s. At the plate, he picked up his 100th hit in his final regular season game.
Parcell signed to play at Northern Illinois next season where he will be studying marketing. He said that the decision to go to school and play there was an easy one.
"I visited the school, and I really liked the school a lot," Parcell said. "I was a big fan of the coaching staff. And I know they liked me."
Parcell, who plays for Windy City during the summer, said that he prefers playing high school baseball to playing anywhere else.
"I get an opportunity to be with my friends," Parcell said. "I get to represent my school and community. There is nothing better than that."
Parcell credits his ability to stay healthy with his success.
"I never missed a game," Parcell said. "I was lucky to be able to avoid those nagging injuries, so I was always ready to play."
And succeed.