Jeremy Yanow’s junior season was one to forget.
But after hitting .097, the Deerfield pitcher/shortstop acknowledged the problems and vowed to fix them.
“Sure, I had some doubts, that maybe I wasn’t good enough or maybe this isn’t for me,” Yanow said. “Even though it was a bumpy road, I always wanted to keep working on it and knew that if you put in the hard work, it would work out.”
It’s working out for Yanow, a Webster commit who entered the week hitting .412 with a .583 on-base percentage for the Warriors (5-5). He drove in nine runs in the first nine games of his senior season.
Yanow’s success at the plate can be traced to a tweak he made to the way he awaits a pitch.
“I have some movement in my hips pre-pitch, so when the pitch comes, there’s a natural rhythm to moving forward,” he said.
Yanow’s dramatic improvement hasn’t been limited to offense. He was a nonfactor on the mound in 2022 but began this season with a 2-1 record and a 1.00 ERA in his first three starts. Another mechanical change did the trick.
“I used to break my hands apart later, and there was less velocity,” Yanow said. “Now I break my hands at the peak of my leg lift, and I can also locate my pitches better.”
Yanow’s strides offer an example for anyone in the program to emulate.
“I know he didn’t have the junior year he wanted, and I know how much work he put in,” Deerfield coach Mark Januszewski said. “He’s really responded and been great for us.”
Swanson’s sweet swan song: As Grant’s top pitcher and No. 3 hitter, senior Jake Swanson is replied upon heavily.
He’s completely fine with that responsibility.
“I’ve become used to the pressure, and I’d rather be the one the team depends on,” he said.
Swanson has come a long way to get to this point for the Bulldogs (3-6). He wasn’t overly productive for a good part of his junior season, but everything seemed to click for him toward the end of it. He carried that momentum into this season.
Swanson, who went 4-for-4 in Grant’s 9-4 win against Harlem on Saturday, was hitting .333 with a .452 on-base percentage and seven RBIs through Monday. On the mound, he was 1-2 with a 2.08 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 13 innings in his first three starts.
“He throws pretty hard and attacks with his fastball, but he has a couple of other effective pitches,” Grant coach Dave Behm said. “And he’s been hitting the ball all over the place.”
Swanson, who will continue his career at the College of Lake County, is unusual in how he approaches the game mentally. He doesn’t mind taking his frustration onto the field with him.
“I play a little better when I’m mad,” he said. “If I make a bad out, I can go out and pitch and gain a couple mph. I get more focused and locked in.”
Kerpan offers closure: Closing games takes a unique combination of good stuff and a tough-as-nails mentality.
Grayslake North senior Jack Kerpan has both.
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“Experiencing high-pressure situations has molded me,” he said. “I’ve grown into the role, and I feel it’s my spot.”
Kerpan, who earned a two-inning save for the Knights (6-4) in their 9-7 win against Wauconda on Wednesday, had the role last year but said he feels a lot more confident this season. There was a period of adjustment for him as he became comfortable occupying the mound with the game on the line.
Coming into this season, there wasn’t much doubt in first-year coach Eric Lopez’s mind about who would be the closer.
“He’s been consistent throughout, and we trust him,” Lopez said. “When we give him the ball, we feel really confident that he’ll get the job done.”
Kerpan’s nasty curveball is a big reason for that. He uses it to make batters chase when he’s ahead in the count, and he has progressed to the stage where he can locate it for a strike in other counts.
“I love throwing that pitch,” he said. “It’s definitely become my absolute go-to pitch.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.
