Here’s a ‘Juicy’ story. Jarron Thompson turns into a strikeout king for Waubonsie Valley. ‘I know there’s nobody better than me.’

Waubonsie Valley junior Jarron Thompson has quite the back story.

At age 1, Thompson was given a lifelong nickname by his mother, Karron — “JuJu,” a variation of “juicy,” that he was typically called by his sister and aunt.

But Thompson has another juicy nugget from his early childhood.

“When I was younger, I always liked to pick things up and throw them,” Thompson said. “I’d play catch with my dad, James. I always had a strong arm from the jump.”

Just ask the hitters from DeKalb or Neuqua Valley.

Coming off a career-best 16 strikeouts against DeKalb, Thompson followed that up Monday with another superb turn for the Warriors in a 3-2 DuPage Valley Conference victory over Neuqua.

Thompson (3-3) struck out six and scattered eight hits while allowing just one earned run as Waubonsie (12-8, 6-4) captured its fifth straight win.

The 6-foot Thompson, a Missouri recruit, has a rocket right arm and shows every indication of being an elite pitcher.

His fastball has been timed at 92 mph. His slider features a berserk, corkscrew movement and ideal placement.

Thompson also has the necessary mentality of a first-rate pitcher — a brash kind of confidence that hitters are not going to get the best of him.

Not now. Not ever.

“When I step up on the mound, that’s my whole thing,” Thompson said. “I know there’s nobody better than me.

“I go up with the attitude I’m the best one out there and I’m going to dominate.”

Logan Gregorio, a senior catcher, has seen Thompson’s growth and development from a crucial perspective behind the plate.

“Jarron is a very hardworking, talented, and yet also very humble,” Gregorio said. “He also has great leadership.

“Whenever something needs to get done on the field, he always takes care of it.”

Thompson had to learn disappointment and failure in order to reach his current levels of achievement.

“The mental side of the game really held me up my sophomore year,” he said. “I was getting in my head a lot.

“I had all of these high expectations of being a sophomore on varsity, everybody expecting me to do well, and I tried to do too much. I ended up walking too many guys.”

Waubonsie coach Bryan Acevedo said Thompson no longer carries the burden of success and failure by himself.

“He has gotten more confident and understands he can’t do it alone,” Acevedo said. “Last year, he was virtually a freshman since he lost his first season to the pandemic.

“Being more understanding about the game has made him what he is today. He carries himself a little differently this season.”

Thompson always had the physical tools. Now, he has become more versatile and aware of the natural limitations.

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“I don’t think too much,” he said. “Some days, you’re not going to have your best stuff. If I throw a pitch, and it’s not what I want or they get a hit, I move on to the next batter.

“I try not to get struck on the last pitch and get thrown off my rhythm.”

In developing that side of his game, Thompson has come to relish the psychological dance every pitcher goes through in direct confrontation with opposing hitters.

More often than not, he’s the victor.

“My favorite part is the cat-and-mouse part,” Thompson said. “It’s almost like a chess game and you’re trying to throw the hitter off.

“Depending on how the at-bat goes, if I succeed, I feel good because I know that I won that individual battle.”

Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.