Senior shortstop Chris Cole struggled last season for Streamwood. He knows that.
At the same time, the Sabres thrived, winning the Upstate Eight title and breaking a conference championship drought that existed since 2011. Their graduation losses, however, were heavy.
Cole, who last spring played behind Elgin Community College recruit Chris Lara, entered this season also knowing there were opportunities to be had for an increased role.
“Last year, the at-bats I did get, I wasn’t producing,” Cole said. “I sat behind some really talented guys. I wasn’t angry about it because I learned so much from them. It’s really paid off this year.
“Just to kind of be a leader on my team, it’s been really good for me.”
Cole delivered his signature performance Tuesday night at Wintrust Field in Schaumburg.
Going 3-for-4, Cole smashed a triple to right-center for the Sabres in an 8-4 nonconference victory over Elgin. He added an RBI single to left and then doubled to deep left and scored.
Cole’s brother, Charles, earned the win for Streamwood (3-5). He pitched a complete game, striking out seven and allowing four runs on seven hits. Antonio Alanis went 2-for-3 with two runs.
Ben Heinrich threw three shutout innings and went 2-for-3 with two runs for Elgin (0-7). Jacob Rufino added a two-run double.
For a player lacking varsity experience, Cole needs nights like he experienced Tuesday that should pay off down the road.
“This is great for him,” Streamwood coach Dan Jennings said of Cole. “I think confidence-wise, he’s a confident guy, he’s seeing the ball well.
“Once he sees it off his bat a couple times now, I think it’s going to be a great thing for (Wednesday). It’s going to be a great thing for Friday. It’s going to be a big thing for Saturday.”
As far as the success of his lineup, Jennings feels like Cole’s development will be a big part of the team’s success.
“This year, I’m hoping he breaks out,” Jennings said. “He’s gap to gap, too. It’s something important, that he gets going, because he’s in the heart of the lineup. Hitting the ball is super important for us, driving guys in.”
Elgin controlled the game early, leading 3-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth.
New coach Joel Gamino, who was an assistant the past few seasons at Streamwood, considered the start to the game as one of the building blocks for turning around the program.
“There are no moral victories, but in a way, it is because I just want them to be competitive and respect the game,” Gamino said. “I’m trying to be patient, but I’m trying to turn it around.
“I’m trying to bring (what we did at Streamwood) over here.”
Streamwood turned the game around, however, sending 11 batters to the plate in a six-run fourth.
Not only is Chris Cole starting to produce at the plate, he and his brother Charlie are the emotional sparkplugs for the Sabres. After every big moment, both of them were getting the team going.
“He’s that way everywhere, in the locker room, on the bus,” Jennings said. “He’s got a great personality. His brother is similar too.
“It’s great because when you have life in this sport, it carries over to other people.”
Chris Cole is comfortable in that sort of role, and he hopes that helps lift up the rest of his team.
“That is my natural personality,” he said. “You see guys quiet in the dugout. Things weren’t going well early in the game. You just really have to get the guys fired up and ready to play.
“I just try to get them started.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
