Baseball: DuPage County All-Area captain Roberts leads Waubonsie Valley to sectional title in standout senior season

During his junior year, Owen Roberts enjoyed a superb season, hitting .452 with 4 home runs and 31 RBI, while sporting a 10-0 mound record with 73 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings pitched.

Those numbers gave Waubonsie Valley baseball coach Bryan Acevedo confidence heading into the 2025 campaign.

“We (coaching staff) asked ourselves, ‘Can he do this again?’” said Acevedo.

The answer was a resounding — yes.

Roberts compiled some lofty numbers once again during a memorable senior season.

At the plate, the Warriors’ No. 2 hitter batted .367 with 44 base hits, including 5 doubles and a pair of home runs, scored 32 runs, had 19 RBI, and drew 24 walks, while posting a .487 on-base percentage.

On the mound, the hard-throwing right hander finished 8-2 with a minuscule 0.48 ERA, allowing just 5 earned runs over 72 innings, while walking 16 and fanning 96, including 28 looking. He made 11 starts, recording 10 complete games, with a 0.65 WHIP. Opposing batters hit .125 against Roberts.

For his two-way efforts, Roberts has been named captain of the 2025 Daily Herald DuPage County All-Area baseball team.

“Owen was better on the mound this season,” said Acevedo. “At the plate, his power numbers took a little bit of a dip, but he was the most feared bat in our lineup and he continued to produce. He was disciplined enough to understand that teams might pitch around him, but that gave Hiroshy Wong and Josh Hung more RBI opportunities.

“At the end of the day, all the kid cares about is winning. He understands the game even more. He was OK with not always being the guy to do it.”

Acevedo always felt comfortable whenever he penciled in Roberts as the Warriors’ starting pitcher.

“Giving him the ball, if we could score a couple runs, we’re going to win,” said the coach. “He threw back-to-back 1-0 games against Neuqua Valley and DeKalb. He gave up one earned run in each of his two losses, and they were 2-1 and 3-1 games.

“He’s the most competitive kid I’ve ever been around.”

That competitive streak was aided on the football field, where Roberts was an all-DuPage Valley Conference safety/receiver this past season.

“I think playing football helped me in baseball,” said Roberts. “Tackling is like making a play in the field. It helped make me mentally tougher.”

Roberts took pride in finishing what he started when taking the mound.

“Personally, I’m most proud of the complete game streak (10),” he said.

The only game Roberts didn’t complete came early in the season during a late-March nonconference clash with York — and he carried a no-hitter through 5 innings before being taken out.

Relying on a 2-seam fastball, circle changeup, and slide/slurve, Roberts carved through opposing teams with pinpoint precision.

“I try to attack hitters,” said the 6-foot, 185-pounder, whose fastball has been clocked in the low 90s. “If you walk a bunch of guys, you’re not an efficient pitcher. I want to go as deep into games as I can.”

Stepping into the batter’s box, Roberts noticed teams pitching him a little differently this season.

“I saw a lot more curves early in the count,” he said. “There were no secrets against the DVC teams — we faced some of them four or five times.”

Roberts, who struck out just 15 times in 150 plate appearances, likes seeing himself as a tough out.

“I refuse to lose in the box,” he said.

Acevedo settled on a weekly routine where Roberts played shortstop Monday and Tuesday, pitched Thursday, and played second base Saturday, trying to save on his arm.

The plan obviously paid off, as Roberts was at his best in the biggest moments.

He allowed just 1 earned run and 6 hits with 7 strikeouts during the Warriors’ 5-4 win over Naperville Central that enabled Waubonsie to claim a share of the DVC title.

In late May, Roberts bested the Redhawks a second time, fanning 12 in Waubonsie’s 7-1 Class 4A regional semifinal victory.

A week later, he went the distance with 7 strikeouts while going 2 for 3 with a home run during the Warriors’ 4-1 sectional semifinal triumph over Lockport.

Waubonsie (23-13) went on to secure its first sectional title since 2005 before losing a 2-0 supersectional decision to Normal Community on June 9 in Bloomington.

“It definitely was an honor to play for Coach Acevedo,” said Roberts, who will attend Indiana State this summer and play for the Sycamores next season. “For our team to do it (win a sectional) for him was huge.”

At Indiana State, Roberts hopes to continue pitching and hitting.

“I’m expecting to do both,” he said. “We’ll see how they view me.”

“Owen has a competitive fire,” said Acevedo. “He’s a pretty humble kid, but he wants to win.”

Acevedo will miss having Roberts around.

“I would tell our kids all the time how special he is,” said the coach. “Next to Mike Bowden (2005 graduate who played MLB with Boston and the Cubs), Owen is the next best player to walk the halls in 50 years at Waubonsie Valley.

“It was an absolute pleasure to coach him. He’s special.”