For a second straight season, Geneva’s Nate Stempowski may have started off his season slowly. But when he flips the switch, he does it with authority.
The junior shortstop scuffled through his team’s spring break trip to Florida, but he turned the corner last week.
“I started getting my rhythm and I skyrocketed,” Stempowski said. “I just keep moving up in the order. A couple homers got me feeling really comfortable.
“I felt like I was able to hit everything at the plate.”
It sure looked like it. Stempowski went 9-for-18 with 10 runs, three doubles, a triple, three home runs and 13 RBIs as the Vikings (8-4) finished 5-0 for the week.
Geneva coach Brad Wendell knew it was only a matter of time before Stempowski would be back doing damage.
“He’s just been hitting the ball hard through the middle, staying within himself and not chasing pitches,” Wendell said. “He started a little slow the first week. Over the last couple series, he’s really taken off.”
Wendell saw that slow start last season as well and dropped Stempowski in the lineup until he figured things out. He did the same thing this season, and it worked again.
“He was overanxious at the start,” Wendell said. “He did that last year, too. I put him at the bottom of the lineup and he kept rising.”
Stempowski’s hot finish to last season put him on the recruiting radar.
“I was talking to him in the offseason — it’s tough because everybody knows who he is now,” Wendell said. “He’s taken a deep breath, he’s not pressing and he’s letting the game come to him.”
Geneva bounced back from back-to-back losses to Elk Grove and Hersey after returning from Florida. The Vikings started DuKane Conference play last week with a three-game sweep of Glenbard North.
“We had a terrible game against Hersey,” Stempowski said. “Everyone was down. We got into our group chat Sunday and said we have to step up and compete.
“We started hitting the ball. Everyone got going.”
The 5-foot-9 Stempowski, who is also the Vikings’ quarterback in football, is still figuring out his college destination.
Due to his height, he knows playing quarterback at the next level could be a challenge.
“It’s a little early, but I’m trying to go for baseball because of my height,” Stempowski said. “If I could get to 5-foot-11, maybe I could be a dual-sport guy.
“I know I’ll be playing baseball, but football is up in the air.”
No more varsity blues: St. Charles East sophomore Joey Arend is a known commodity in Illinois scouting circles, but he’s still getting his feet wet on varsity.
“I wish it was as simple as just going out there and throwing strikes,” Arend said. “When you struggle, you have to adjust, find what you’re doing wrong.
“Starting the home opener was big for me. Coming into the season, I knew I had a shot to start on varsity. I just tried to stay with my game,”
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Arend, who plays the outfield and pitches for the Saints, is ranked No. 21 among sophomores in the state by Prep Baseball report.
Working with a fastball in the mid-80s, the 6-foot left-hander has posted a 1.83 ERA in his first three outings. He’s struck out 12 and walked five in 7 2/3 innings.
“He’s fit in very well with the guys,” St. Charles East coach Len Asquini said OF Arend. “He’s handled the pressures of hitting in the two spot and being our No. 2 pitcher with great composure.”
Bama bound: Junior lefty Emin Hartigan became the latest from Harvest Christian to commit to playing in college.
On Saturday, Hartigan picked Alabama-Huntsville, an NCAA Division II program.
Over his first 8 1/3 innings this season, Hartigan has struck out 19 for the Lions (14-1), who are riding a 10-game win streak.
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
