Wheaton North's DeAno a classic ballplayer
Streak or slump, Jack DeAno always has Mozart awaiting him at home.
A relaxing diversion from the grind of high school baseball, playing the piano allows the Wheaton North senior to tap into his cultured side.
"I took piano lessons for about six years, so it's something I like to do just about every day," he said. "I like classical music. My friends kind of make fun of me sometimes, but that's fine."
It's a classical twist to a classic baseball player.
Through three varsity seasons DeAno steadily put up numbers that eclipse nearly everything accomplished before in Wheaton North's program. From the moment he started in center field as a sophomore, he fit right in.
Same on the mound, where DeAno filled the ace role and chased his share of team pitching records. With speed and defense to boot, he's the closest you'll find to a five-tool player at the high school level.
Whatever the need, DeAno delivered - especially in the trophy case.
Leading Wheaton North to its most successful era in program history, DeAno is the 2009 Daily Herald DuPage County All-Area baseball captain.
The numbers speak volumes, which is a good thing because the last thing DeAno enjoys is talking about himself. Others, however, are more than willing to glow about him.
"There isn't anything he doesn't do well," said Naperville Central coach Bill Seiple. "I don't think there's a weak spot in his game, and he plays it the right way.
"He's right up there with the best we've had in the (DuPage Valley Conference)," he said. "You can look back and say, 'What a fun guy to have coached against.'"
Heading into Wednesday's Class 4A St. Charles North sectional semifinals, DeAno was batting .429 with 8 home runs, 33 RBI, 39 runs scored, 17 steals and a .838 slugging percentage from his trademark leadoff spot. A deceptive pitching presence, he also had a 7-1 record with a 2.02 ERA.
Most important, though, DeAno's three-year career represented the cornerstone of vast success with 70 victories. Wheaton North won the last two DVC titles with him either in center field or on the mound. This year the program notched its first outright conference title since 1980.
On the heels of last year's fourth-place state finish in Class 4A - the Falcons' deepest playoff run - they won their first 20 games this year, set a program record for wins in a season and claimed their second straight regional title.
All accomplished with DeAno leading the way.
"When Jack gets on base it's almost like a guaranteed run," said senior teammate Trey Martin. "He'll steal second and maybe third, and we can knock him in from there. He's just real valuable."
'Crazy natural ability'
To call DeAno a "natural" wouldn't be fair to his immense hard work through the years.
Boy, though, does he make baseball look effortless.
"He's always had that crazy natural ability that you can't teach," said senior teammate Wade Cervenka. "And he knows the game so well. He makes ridiculous plays in the outfield, he gets on and steals two bases. He puts us in a position to win every game."
It began for DeAno, like so many other elite athletes, with a flurry of athletic activity. As a youngster he competed in football, basketball and baseball before narrowing basketball out of the picture.
As a cornerback in football DeAno earned all-DVC honors and college looks by snaring 6 interceptions as a junior. Despite a severe ankle sprain suffered the summer before his senior year, DeAno gutted through another playoff football season last fall.
"The ankle never really healed and stayed with me through the whole football season," he said. "Finally, after football it got the rest it needed. Having it healthy helped me this baseball season."
DeAno's decision to commit early to a college also helped. First he chose to play baseball at the next level, then he made his college decision before the school year began.
DeAno accepted a baseball scholarship offer from Vanderbilt, turning down potential offers that might have come down the road. With a 4.6 grade-point average and a 25 ACT, DeAno knew what he wanted in a school and a baseball program.
"The academics were important to me," he said. "And I'm excited to play in a conference like the (Southeastern Conference)."
Fun and focus
By all accounts, including his own, DeAno can be quite the jokester. As long as it's not game time.
"Honestly, he can be kind of a goof," said Falcons coach Dan Schoessling. "The other day we had to practice in the field house because of the rain, and he's got his sunglasses on in there. Just little things like that to make things more fun.
"The thing about Jack, though, is that as much of a goof as he is, when it's game time he's completely focused.
"He's one of the better, if not the best, baseball players to come out of Wheaton North," he said.
Three years of maturity, focus and unparalleled competitiveness show in DeAno's career numbers.
He owns Wheaton North's all-time marks for runs scored and lowest ERA, and he's battled Martin for the home run record. Heading into Wednesday, DeAno stood one win shy of the all-time victory mark, two shy of the RBI record and three shy of the stolen base record.
He's the ultimate catalyst. You can't seem to get DeAno out at the plate, and you can't seem to scratch much against him on the mound.
A three-time all-DVC pick, he earned the league's player of the year honor this season.
"He's dangerous in so many ways," said Wheaton Warrenville South coach Tim Brylka. "He comes up to the plate and all you can say is, 'uh oh.' You don't know how to get him out.
"I think he's a perfect kid to represent (the DVC) as our player of the year," he said.
It was a season of hitting, pitching and defense worthy of all the accolades DeAno's in the process of garnering.
And it caps a stellar era for Wheaton North baseball.
Through three years of excellence, Mozart himself couldn't have composed a better career for DeAno.
"I never thought I'd be the leader of a varsity baseball team, but it's a dream come true," DeAno said. "I'm just real proud to be part of a team like this."
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>All-Area Teams</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Cook County</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=298406"><B>Softball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298405">Softball captain: Nikki Goranson</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298398"><B>Baseball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298397">Baseball captain: Jon Carlson</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298403"><B>Girls soccer</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298402">Soccer captains: Laura Mayer, Mary Kubiuk</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298401"><B>Boys volleyball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298400">Volleyball captain: Chris Falknor</a></li> </ul> <h2>DuPage County</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=298388"><B>Softball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298392">Softball captain: Hannah Santora</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298389"><B>Baseball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298582">Baseball captain: Jack DeAno</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298391"><B>Girls soccer</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298394">Soccer captain: Leah Fortune</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298390"><B>Boys volleyball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298393">Volleyball captain: Joe Kelly</a></li> </ul> <h2>Fox Valley</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=298362">Softball captain: Kimberly Pierce</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298660"><B>Baseball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298356">Baseball co-captain: Brian Brauer</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298355">Baseball co-captain: Craig Lipp</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298658"><B>Girls soccer</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298361">Soccer captain: Cori Wronski</a></li> </ul> <h2>Lake County</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=298410"><B>Softball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298408">Softball captain: Olivia Duehr</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298407"><B>Baseball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298396">Baseball captain: Chas Evans</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298404"><B>Girls soccer</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298409">Soccer captain: Courtney Levy</a></li> </ul> <h2>Tri-Cities</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=298385"><B>Softball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298383"><B>Baseball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298382"><B>Girls soccer</B></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>