The way Tuesday’s game started, Bremen’s Xavier Aguilar did not see a special day coming.
Aguilar, a senior pitcher/infielder, gave up a leadoff home run against Eisenhower. He responded with one of the best pitching performances in Braves history.
Aguilar set a new program record with 17 strikeouts, allowing just three hits and no walks in a 4-1 win. Making things even better, his brother, Armando — a junior — was his catcher.
“Armando was guiding me through that whole game, calling great pitches,” Xavier said. “I think it’s pretty cool I broke that record. At first, I didn’t even realize I had that many strikeouts.
“I never count my strikeouts or anything like that, and I just try to pitch my best. So, when they told me, it was pretty exciting.”
Armando, who also pitches, was glad to be a part of his older brother’s record-breaking performance.
“It was fun,” Armando said. “He only gave up one run and he didn’t let that get in his head. He was pounding the strike zone.”
The Aguilars are enjoying a ton of success together this season for Bremen (6-5). In addition to teaming up to form a battery, they often hit next to each other in the order, with Armando leading off and Xavier batting second.
Xavier is 2-0 on the mound with a 0.46 ERA. Armando is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA. Offensively, Armando is hitting an unheard of .706 with 19 runs and eight RBIs, while Xavier is hitting .536 with 13 runs and 19 RBIs.
The brothers said they don’t spend much time discussing numbers.
“We don’t really compare stats or anything or compete that way, but it’s fun when we go up against each other in practices or in the offseason,” Xavier said. “Most of the time, I win those battles.”
Armando has to concede that point, sharing a viewpoint that Eisenhower would surely agree with after Tuesday.
“He’s a tough pitcher to hit,” Armando said.
Xavier and Armando have been close their whole lives. Baseball has always been at the forefront of their relationship.
“We’ve been together since he’s been out of the womb,” Xavier said. “We’re less than a year apart in age and we’ve always been there for each other. We just have that connection. It’s special for us.”
That connection was on full display Tuesday. Except for one moment, that is.
“He shook me off one time and gave up a hit,” Armando said. “He didn’t shake me off again.”
Xavier said he learned a lesson to trust his brother’s calls after insisting on throwing a curveball that was hit for a single.
“That was bad on my part,” Xavier said. “I had him down 0-2, and I sped the guy’s bat up by throwing him a curveball. Armando was definitely right about that one.”
Bremen coach Mike Cline has twin sons. Jorden is a pitcher and Jaden is a catcher.
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“So, I know how that is as a father and I can imagine how Mr. Aguilar feels about that,” Cline said. “It’s really cool to get to see a lot of the same things with my sons and with Xavier and Armando.
“Xavier and Armando, they’re always on the same page. It’s fun to watch.”
Xavier said pitching to his brother is so much easier than pitching to anyone else.
“It makes me feel a lot more comfortable and it speeds up the game because he already knows the pitch I want to throw,” Xavier said. “It lets me stay in a good rhythm.”
Now, Xavier has his name in Bremen’s record books. And he’ll always remember the role Armando played in getting him there.
“It means a lot,” Xavier said. “It feels good knowing that I’m going to leave a legacy of myself for the rest of the school to see.”
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
