Easy does it, Streamwood slugger Nick Weaver takes move to leadoff spot in stride. ‘I just keep playing and being me.’

Streamwood’s Nick Weaver doesn’t have a problem getting on base.

The problem is teams were pitching around the slugger, and the senior catcher was happy to take his walks. The Sabres, however, wanted to see more power and extra-base hits.

The solution? Move Weaver to the leadoff spot.

“It ended up working out,” said Weaver, who has a .700 on-base percentage through the Sabres’ first 10 games this season. “I love it. I kind of like being put wherever.

“I don’t have to change my game. I just keep playing and being me.”

That’s bad news for opponents.

As the weather heats up, Weaver’s power swing has emerged. He hit his first homer of the season Saturday for Streamwood, a three-run blast as part of a 4-for-4 effort in a 13-1 victory over Glenbard North.

Weaver is hitting .621 (18-for-29) this season for Streamwood (8-2). He has 13 runs, 12 stolen bases, five doubles, a triple, a homer and 11 RBIs. He also hasn’t struck out.

“I think I’m just settling in and catching my stride,” he said.

Streamwood coach Dan Jennings has seen Weaver catching fire.

“At the beginning of the year, you think he’s off to a slow start,” Jennings said. “He was getting base hits and driving in a guy here or there. We put him at leadoff because we’re sick of people walking him.

“He’s been off the charts. He’s on base all the time.”

Weaver had a huge junior season and was rewarded with an all-state nod. That recognition and a big summer with Canes Illinois, his travel team, have given him a boost.

“It shows that I belong here,” Weaver said. “It’s given me this leadership. It’s given me the confidence to be the leader that Streamwood needs.”

Weaver is committed to play next season at Elgin Community College. Jennings pointed out how he’s still filling out his frame, bursting onto college coaches’ radars late in the process.

“I’m hoping he goes to ECC and does a great job,” Jennings said of Weaver. “But I think he can play at a Division I level.”

That would go a long way toward Weaver’s ultimate goal.

“My dream has been to play professional baseball,” Weaver said. “The goal is to transfer somewhere down south in the ACC or SEC. I can hang with those guys.

“Mentally, I’m there. It’s time to prove that.”

Master class: There were people outside of Jacobs’ program concerned after a five-game stretch where the Golden Eagles went 2-3.

Don’t count coach Jamie Murray among them. He purposefully loads up his nonconference schedule to prepare Jacobs for the postseason.

An extra-inning loss at downstate Harrisburg and a 2-1 loss to Warren, which featured Arizona State recruit Adam Behrens on the mound, didn’t faze Murray.

“Our nonconference stuff is an AP class,” Murray said. “We’re going to play the best programs. If I soften it, we’ll get the perception that we’re better than we really are.

“It gives them the confidence that we shouldn’t be blindsided by anybody.”

That patience was rewarded with a close win Saturday.

Bradley recruit Anthony Edge hit a walk-off two-run homer in extra innings as Jacobs (7-3) earned a 3-1 victory over Crystal Lake Central in its Fox Valley Conference opener.

Gilroy’s world: While sophomore Cam Sarallo’s no-hitter stole the show last Monday, the offense in the 5-0 win over Hampshire was once again spearheaded by Brady Gilroy.

The junior outfielder continued his torrid start for the Rockets (2-5) by going 3-for-4 with a double, a triple and two RBIs.

“He’s one of the more dynamic players that I’ve ever coached,” Burlington Central coach Kyle Nelson said. “He takes good at-bats. He’s almost never overmatched at the plate.

“He’s even played some short for us this year. He’s so natural at whatever position you put him at on the field. His base-running instincts are off the charts.”

Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.