Dudzinski is standing tall for Kaneland
A first-year slugger who hadn't seen a single pitch on the varsity level and someone much better known for his prowess as a basketball star - that's where we go to find two of the area's most prolific run-producers this spring.
After the 38 RBI by Aurora Christian sophomore Mitch Holtz, a starter and key player on last year's supersectional team, the next two on the list come as somewhat of a surprise - at least based on expectations coming into the season.
Kaneland senior first baseman Dave Dudzinski and Geneva right fielder junior Chris Hipchen follow with 34 and 32, respectively.
Dudzinski, a Division I basketball star and captain of the Daily Herald All-Area team, is producing
"Dave is a run-producing machine," said Kaneland coach Brian Aversa. "He had a great summer and saw the ball well."
Dudzinski didn't play much last year behind Jeff Smith. Aversa knows where Dudzinski's future lies but appreciates the work he has put in to have such a good senior year in baseball.
"He was concentrating on basketball because that was his No. 1 priority and we understand that," Aversa said. "We're happy to have him on the team and the numbers he's putting up for us are tremendous. He's seeing the ball well, It looks like a beach ball to him."
Not only is Dudzinski a force at the plate, he shows his all-around athletic ability on the bases and in the field. The 6-foot-9 Dudzinski is fourth on the team with 4 steals, he makes a tall target for throws to first base and he also can scoop out the low throws.
"He's a huge target at first, does a great job scooping the ball, jumping up and tagging runners," Aversa said. "For him to produce the way he has, he's in another world right now. He's doing a tremendous job. He has more extra-base hits this year than singles. We thought in the beginning of the season anything we could get from Dave would be extra. He's doing a great job hitting the ball where it is pitched."
Dudzinski is part of a senior class having a great spring and keeping the 18-10 Knights just off the pace of Western Sun leaders Geneva and DeKalb. Jack Tickle leads the team with a .382 average, while Ty Hamer and Steve Colombe have been the leaders on the mound. Leadoff hitter Jake Fiedler is batting .349 with 24 runs scored.
"Fielder and Tickle and Duds are doing a heck of a job, and Hamer and Colombe on the mound are doing an awesome job," Aversa said. "We have had some guys step up and play big and that's what we lean on our seniors for to get us momentum, that energy."
At Geneva, the 19-6 Vikings have pounded their way to a 12-3 Western Sun record heading into a three-game series with 12-3 DeKalb that starts today.
Nobody is slugging more than Hipchen, who has an area-best 11 home runs but is much more than just a power hitter - Hipchen is second to red-hot senior shortstop Jason Adams (.432) on the team with a .423 batting average.
Hipchen is having thatimpact despite not playing any varsity baseball until this spring. He came up for the postseason last spring but did not play.
"I put in a lot of hard work in the off-season," Hipchen said. "I expect a lot out of myself. I'm not surprised, but I am very happy with what I've been able to accomplish. It's nice to be doing what I'm doing."
Hipchen said he's not seeing as many fastballs as the season has gone on and teams realize this first-year player can hit. He belted his 11th home run last Tuesday at Elfstrom Stadium against Batavia.
"I notice more off-speed stuff," Hipchen said. "I just trying to wait back. When I see the pitches I like, I try to pounce on them when they are there."
Another first-year Geneva junior, Mike Monaghan, has made a big impact, hitting .422 with 6 home runs and 24 RBI.
Lesson learned: Credit first-year St. Charles East coach Dave Haskins with teaching his team to do things the right way.
When one of his players said something after being called out on a third strike last week against St. Charles North, the player didn't come out to the field in the bottom of the inning.
Spectators speculated that the umpire must have thrown the player out of the game. Turns out it was his coach.
"I tossed him," Haskins said. "He looked back and said something to the umpire. We don't show up umpires. That's my policy."
The Saints came within a 3-2 loss to St. Charles North from winning the series over their cross-town rival, then quickly got back on track with a doubleheader sweep of Elgin on Saturday to improve to 18-9 overall, 12-6 in the Upstate Eight.
Rotation depth: St. Charles North showed again last week the depth of the North Stars' rotation.
Phil Warner, who has been the fourth starter working mostly Saturday games this season, came in a tight spot against St. Charles East on Wednesday. He worked out of the jam, retiring the Saints' 1-2-3 hitters, and eventually worked the final 3 innings to earn his first save.
Warner has been just as good as a starter with a 4-0 record.
"In this game in this magnitude, I give him a lot of credit," North Stars coach Todd Genke said. "He's a big part of a reason why we are sitting where we're at right now."
Shortstop Ryan Richardson appreciates playing behind so many quality arms that also includes Jared Shurtleff and Ryan Hudspeth - like Warner, both still undefeated - and Kevin Borst.
"We have four or five guys we can throw out there with confidence any day of the week and against any team," Richardson said. "He's (Warner) one of those guys."