In three varsity seasons, Ben Ford has shown flashes of his potential for Waubonsie Valley.
Over the past few weeks, though, coach Bryan Acevedo has watched Ford put it all together.
“He’s had varying degrees of success the past two years,” Acevedo said of Ford. “This year, it’s starting to click for him. The last two weeks he’s kind of been on a tear. It’s been big.
“We saw this since he was a sophomore, and we’re finally seeing what we thought he had.”
That tear continued Tuesday in a 7-3 DuPage Valley Conference win at Metea Valley.
Ford, a senior outfielder, delivered an RBI triple in the first inning and tied the game with an RBI double in the fifth before leading off the seventh with his second homer of the season.
Hiroshy Wong hit the go-ahead three-run homer in the fifth for Waubonsie (8-7, 3-2). Ryan Morton threw a complete game for the win, striking out three and allowing three runs on four hits.
Owen Myket hit a solo homer and Tyler Gluting added an RBI double for Metea (5-7, 1-4).
Ford said he was pressing at times during his first two varsity seasons. That’s no longer the case.
“My sophomore year, I was the only sophomore on varsity and I started out a little cold,” said Ford. who checks in at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds. “I felt a little pressure to get it going to stay on varsity.
“I feel like this year, I’m sort of a leader as a senior on this team. I’m so much more relaxed. I feel more in control. I feel much better as a player, too.”
Acevedo confirmed how experience and maturity have played a role in Ford’s development.
“I think sophomore and junior year, he was trying to be ‘the guy,’” Acevedo said of Ford. “Now, he is the guy, but he’s not doing it because he’s trying to do it. He simplified his approach a little bit, and it’s really paid off.
“Understanding what he’s trying to do, that’s taken a little bit of time and he’s definitely matured into that role.”
Ford showed off his new approach Tuesday against Metea with three extra-base hits. While those performances were more sporadic early in his career, they’re becoming the norm now.
“I’m just looking to go up there and hit the ball hard, looking for pitches I can handle and hit well,” Ford said. “I feel like I got some of them (Tuesday) and put good swings on them.
“I think just relaxing, sitting back and trusting my training has helped me succeed this season.”
Waubonsie trailed 3-2 going into the fifth Tuesday. A four-run inning erased that deficit and Morton was able to settle in from there. He retired 15 of the final 17 batters he faced.
“Credit their pitcher,” Metea coach Steve Colombe said. “We’ve seen him in the past. He keeps the ball down, changes speeds very well. It’s hard to run on him. He’s quick to the plate.
“He did a good job keeping us off balance. He got a lot of weak contact as the game went on.”
Ford is hoping to keep his hot streak rolling the rest of the season and then right into the start of his college career next season at Illinois Wesleyan.
“I think having a successful year this year will give me a lot of confidence moving on to the next level next year in college,” Ford said. “It shows me what I’m capable of and gives me confidence to keep going.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
