Starting his senior season 1-for-11 was not a problem for Stevenson shortstop JR Nelson.
Rather than panic, Nelson dipped into his deep reservoir of built-up confidence to be the spark plug the Patriots rely upon to ignite their lineup.
“There were a lot of at-’em balls and some that didn’t find a hole,” he said. “You can only control what you can control. If you keep a level head and stay consistent, good things will happen.”
That’s more often than not the case for Nelson, a third-year varsity starter and Ohio recruit.
Since Olson’s slow start, multi-hit games have become the norm, and he was batting .333 with a .400 on-base percentage after the Patriots (13-5, 3-2) beat Mundelein in a North Suburban Conference game on Wednesday. He also had eight doubles, 14 RBIs, 13 runs and four steals.
That level of production makes Nelson very visible, both on the base paths and in opponents’ scouting reports. But Nelson’s defense and baseball instincts also are important. He’s back at a more familiar position after playing third base last season.
Wherever he is on the field, he has always exhibited a strong zest for the game.
“It’s easier to tune him down than tune him up,” Stevenson coach Nick Skala said. “He plays defense at a really high level. He has the ability to turn a routine play into a showcase.”
As the Patriots’ leadoff hitter, Nelson said he prides himself on making a pitcher work — he has struck out just four times in 67 plate appearances — but he also likes making important plays at short that may not show up in the box score.
“I never give up a ball on defense,” he said. “Against Warren, they had second and third and hit one deep into the hole. I dove and stopped it from getting to the outfield, so it saved a run and kept the double play intact.”
A new Olson: If it seems like Antioch junior Jack Olson is a different pitcher this season, that’s because he is.
Olson wasn’t much of a factor last year, so he doubled down on his offseason training. The result is someone who not only has a better feel for pitching, but also has the physical profile to dominate a lineup.
“Last year, I would have a good day, but there were a lot of bad days,” he recalled. “I got to thinking, ‘What can I do to be the best I can be?’”
Olson found the answers: making mechanical tweaks and becoming bigger and stronger.
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Olson was 2-0 with a 3.23 ERA and 23 strikeouts in his first three starts spanning 17 innings before giving up six earned runs against Northern Lake County Conference leader Grayslake Central on Wednesday.
“His work ethic is really paying off, and he’s become dominant and fearless,” Antioch coach Frank Fracek said. “And we haven’t even seen his best stuff yet.”
Olson’s stuff includes a big uptick in velocity. He’s consistently in the high 80s but has topped out over 90.
He said he’s more sound mechanically — by keeping his shoulders closed longer, he’s transferring energy in his delivery more efficiently — and he added about 15 pounds of muscle.
Olson can tell the difference in each start for the Sequoits (7-5-1, 2-3).
“If I can locate the fastball, I know it’ll be a good day,” he said. “Last year, if I put it over the plate, they could hit it. Now I can get away with not being perfect.”
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Battle of Bowen is back: After a three-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic and inclement weather, Waukegan and Zion-Benton are planning to reprise the Battle of Bowen at Bowen Park in Waukegan on April 28.
The event was started in 2012, shortly after Waukegan coach Dan Green’s son Jack, who was 4 at the time, was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a rare type of brain tumor most commonly found in children.
The annual matchup quickly became a highlight on both teams’ schedules, with money raised being earmarked for pediatric cancer research. Current Waukegan coach Phil Maione said the event brings in “several thousand” dollars annually through ticket admissions and a variety of fundraising activities.
“It’s a great way to bring together two neighboring communities whose teams have a natural rivalry and raise awareness for a good cause,” Maione said.
Jack Green, a junior at Grant, has thrown out the ceremonial first pitch at many Battle of Bowen games and is slated to do so this season. The distance he has been able to throw has increased dramatically over the years.
“Just the other day, he asked if I had his old Waukegan hat to wear,” said Dan Green, who still works at Waukegan. “We’re hoping for good weather and that we have a big turnout.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.
