David Finfer may be best known for his prolific three-year run as Highland Park’s starting quarterback.
But after leading the football team to its first playoff appearance since 2017, Finfer has segued into another showcase role. He’s the starting shortstop and No. 3 hitter for the baseball team.
“Pressure is pressure, but you have to love it,” he said. “Nothing makes you feel as good as people having trust in you and you knowing that you can do the job.”
Finfer certainly did the job on the football field last season, when the 6-foot senior totaled 2,712 yards and 36 touchdowns, became the Giants’ all-time leading passer and was an all-state pick in Class 6A by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association. Last month, he committed to play football at Augustana College.
Finfer started the baseball season with no less aplomb. He hit two home runs, including a grand slam, during Highland Park’s 9-3 win against Stevenson in the season opener on March 12. Already doubling his 2023 season total for home runs, Finfer was hitting .308 with eight RBIs through four games for the unbeaten Giants.
“I’ve never been a home run hitter, and the one I hit last year was on a fluke swing where I put the bat out and the ball kept carrying,” he said. “But those two I hit were an awesome feeling rounding the bases and having everyone on the bench going crazy.”
Finfer, who hit .338 with a .490 on-base percentage last season, actually lists defense as the area of his game that’s always been rock-solid. He’s a big part of Highland Park’s strong-up-the-middle alignment, which includes junior second baseman Charlie Cohen and sophomore center fielder Shamar Wilson.
“There’s something special about making a big play on the run or up the middle,” Finfer said. “You can play great defense and not have the best day at the plate, and it’s still great to get the win like that.”
Finfer’s defensive prowess has a ripple effect on the Giants.
“Partly because of him out there at short, our pitchers feel really confident about pitching to contact,” Highland Park coach Jason Newburger said. “They know that they can be closer to the middle of the plate rather than nibbling around the edges.”
Finfer isn’t one to nibble around the edges in anything. That could mean an hourslong football workout followed by baseball practice. Or it could mean just staying on top of things.
“He’s no joke,” Highland Park senior pitcher Michael Pasquesi said. “He has that killer mentality where he doesn’t want to be known as being weak or soft. Whenever we have anything planned or there’s a group chat, he’s always the first one to get us going.”
Indeed, Finfer’s impact on the Giants goes beyond his offensive and defensive contributions. He’s a leader on and off the field, and in a sport where failure is prevalent, simple words of encouragement can go a long way.
Pasquesi recalls a moment during the Stevenson game when Finfer helped him reverse course after a strikeout in his second at-bat.
“He’s always saying ‘chest out, chin up,’ and he told me that then, and I got a double my next time up,” Pasquesi said. “His talent is just the cherry on top. To have a leader like him who keeps everything intact is great.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.
