Kaneland’s Kanon Baxley has been a one-sport player his whole life.
That shouldn’t come as a surprise coming from a family where his parents played college baseball and softball, respectively.
As that love for baseball grew, so did his level of play. That helped the shortstop make varsity this spring as a freshman for the Knights.
“I’ve always been brought up with it,” Baxley said. “It just kept getting bigger and bigger and now I’m here. I didn’t know I would have such a big role.
“I was hoping I could prove myself and at least be on the team because that means a lot.”
It was clear in Monday’s season opener that Baxley is a big part of Kaneland’s plans.
He batted second and hit a homer in his first varsity at-bat, helping the host Knights to a 9-6 nonconference win over Aurora Christian in a six-inning game that was called because of darkness in Maple Park.
Aidan Whildin added a two-run triple and scored twice for Kaneland (1-0). It was also the 400th career win for coach Brian Aversa. Dylan Borysiewicz and Tom Thill each scored twice, while Justin Weissmann struck out the side in the sixth to earn the save.
Noah Hensley and Jack Wayne scored two runs apiece for Aurora Christian (1-2). Jack Burns came through with a pair of singles.
Kaneland assistant Brian Claesson, meanwhile, had a premonition before Baxley’s first at-bat.
“He said, ‘My pick to click is Baxley — he’s going deep in his first at-bat,’” Aversa said of Claesson. “He called it. That was great. What a confidence builder.”
Baxley had a plan and didn’t let the moment get to him.
“Every time I get a 3-1 count, I look for a fastball,” Baxley said. “I just envision the ball that I want to hit in my head. He gave me the one I wanted.
“I honestly thought it was going to hit the fence because it was on a line. That’s why I was running the bases so fast. I have to slow down next time.”
Aversa hasn’t had a freshman up on varsity since Anthony Holubecki in 2013. He had no qualms about giving Baxley the opportunity, however.
“That’s always been a rule,” Aversa said. “We take the best guys on varsity. He proved himself from day one when he was working out with us. We’ll see what he can do.
“He’s a really good kid, hard worker.”
Despite being the youngest player on the team, Baxley hasn’t had a hard time acclimating to varsity life, according to Aversa.
“He’s been great,” Aversa said of Baxley. “He’s fit in really well. The guys have brought him in and adopted him into the team and made him feel like he’s a part of the team. He belongs.”
The Eagles still took the lead on three separate occasions but couldn’t hold onto it for very long.
“We could have kind of phoned it in there when they took the lead a couple times but we fought back,” Aurora Christian coach Andy Zorger said. “We just gave them too many extra outs.
“The conditions were not ideal with the wind. We’ll clean it up. I’m not too worried about it.”
On the flip side, the Knights celebrated Aversa’s latest milestone after hanging on for the win.
“It’s nice to get acknowledged for it, but it’s the kids that did it,” Aversa said. “It’s nothing that we don’t do collectively. It’s a reflection on everybody, not me.”
Baxley, who also figures to be one of Aversa’s top arms on the mound, helped Aversa reach that milestone. He hopes to be a part of many more wins the next four seasons as well.
“I just love baseball,” Baxley said. “It’s always been that way. (Varsity) isn’t that much different than anything else for me.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
