St. Charles North aims for 1st sectional title
St. Charles North's baseball team would like nothing more than extending its season to the second of week in June.
Armed with arguably the area's best all-around player in Kansas State-bound senior Cory Wright, the North Stars (30-4) have put together one of their best seasons in school history - a rich history that includes 5 conference championships and 4 regional titles.
When the North Stars take the field for Wednesday's first-round Class 4A regional contest at Schaumburg, they'll carry a 16-game winning streak along with them.
However, the regular-season winning streak doesn't carry much weight come postseason time.
"It is a new season for everybody," said Genke, who has amassed a 286-106 record in 11 seasons at the helm. "We've been playing our best baseball here at the end of the season but now a whole new season begins. Everybody knows at the end of the day that you win or go home."
It is a time where high school baseball coaches try to find that delicate balance between keeping their teams loose but ultra-focused while the players deal with graduation parties or final exams.
Despite the North Stars' decade-long consistency with standout players like Zach Hirsch, Jeff Holm, Jake Thornton, Danny Jimenez, Ryan Richardson and others, the top seed in the St. Charles East sectional has a loftier goal in mind this season.
"This team wants to leave a legacy," said Genke. "They want to be that first team (to win a sectional). They have come to school every day with that thought in mind."
The left-handed Wright, who pitches and plays first base, is the team's undeniable sparkplug who has received solid support from seniors Kyle Khoury, Tyler Madsen, juniors Brendan Joyce, John LeGare, Kyle Novotney, and sophomore twins Tyler and Zach Mettetal.
"Cory is our leader - he makes us go," said Genke. "He is the ultimate leader - the best I've had to coach. He is the first one at practice and the last to leave. Other kids see that.
"I've been fortunate enough to have him as one of my PE leaders during second hour this year. We talk about the little things - not always just baseball. I'll remember Cory as much for the person he is as the baseball player. I'm happy to have that guy to lean on."
St. Charles East (23-9) begins postseason play Wednesday as the third seed at the Addison Trail regional.
Led by seniors Jake Asquini, Jake Clodi, Reid Olson, Max Powers and pitchers Austin Regelbrugge, Mick Vyzral and Kyle Cook, the Saints would like to make amends for last year's brief playoff appearance.
A year ago, the second-seeded Saints lost a 6-1 regional semifinal decision to 16th-seeded Hoffman Estates.
"That doesn't happen to us," said Saints coach Len Asquini, who guided the team to a third-place state finish in 2013. "It was a humbling experience. We're not going to pound it to the guys but we'll mention it."
St. Charles East stumbled midway through the season, losing 2 of 3 games to Geneva before being swept by St. Charles North.
Since then, the Saints have won 11 of 12 games and are hoping to return to their home field for next week's sectional tourney.
"We put ourselves in a skid but it happens with any team that doesn't have a bona fide stud who plays at a higher level than anybody else," said Asquini. "We don't have that type of difference maker. But in the end - minus 1 game against St. Charles North (8-1 loss) - we have pitched very well."
If the Saints play solid defense, they have a chance to capture their fifth regional title in 6 years.
"It's a good time to try to get the kids to the next level," said Asquini. "It doesn't just happen. It's a process."
Fifth-seeded Geneva (19-11) will host its own regional tournament this week that includes DuPage Valley Conference champion and No. 4 seed Glenbard North.
Led by junior shortstop Jack Wassel and senior catcher Nate Montgomery, the Vikings open against West Chicago Thursday afternoon.
"We've won every series except for the (St. Charles) North series," said Vikings coach Matt Hahn. "We're knocking on the door for 20 wins."
Hahn, who has compiled a 232-140 record in 11 seasons, also leans heavily upon seniors Jason Croci, Nick Porretto, Bret Reed, Garrett Davis, and juniors A.J. Hostman, Mitchell Merges and Justin Hasegawa.
"The sectional is the same as it has been," said Hahn. "The teams at the top end are very good and the teams seeded all the way down to 10 can all win regional titles.
"Take Batavia - their record may not be great but I'd hate to play them in the first round."
Hahn will likely hand the ball to Reed, who tossed a no-hitter during the Vikings' 5-inning victory over West Chicago last Wednesday, in their regional opener.
"His record is 2-3 but his ERA is 1.00," Hahn said of Reed. "He has put up all-conference type numbers."
Hahn has no argument with St. Charles North's top seeding.
"Todd's team is very talented," said Hahn. "They really believe they're going to win (sectional)."
A year ago, Batavia faced South Elgin in the sectional championship game.
On Thursday, the two teams will meet in the regional semifinals at Wheaton North.
"There's a little bit of history there," said Bulldogs coach Matt Holm, whose team dropped an 8-3 decision to South Elgin last season to close out a historic 32-4-1 campaign. "Both teams have good respect for each other.
"It should be a blast."
Relying on Western Kentucky-bound southpaw pitcher Evan Acosta and hard-throwing Ben Lynam and Glenn Albanese, the Bulldogs have the quality arms needed to compete with anybody.
However, the defense must improve if Batavia hopes to win back-to-back regional titles for the first time.
"It's throwing the ball around in the tight games," said Holm. "That has been our problem all season. We knew we were going to play low-scoring games all year. It's not fielding the ball - that has been the difference."
You can reach Craig Brueske at csb4k@hotmail.com