Lake Zurich senior Ryan Kondrad likes structure.
Kondrad eats the same breakfast each day, for instance, and his preference for routine carries over to the baseball field, where he repeats tried-and-true methods in the on-deck circle.
“I like to keep things consistent,” Kondrad said. “When I’m getting ready to hit, breathing is huge. It helps me lock in to where there’s no surround sound. It’s a subconscious thing to get me focused.”
That seems to be working for Kondrad, a third baseman who has become one of Lake County’s most dangerous hitters. He has followed up a strong junior season, when he hit .370 and slugged .519 with 22 RBIs, by taking his production to a new level.
After Lake Zurich’s 16-5 North Suburban Conference win against Zion-Benton on Wednesday, he was hitting .513 with six doubles, six home runs, 19 RBIs and 14 runs scored. That game was a high-water mark for Kondrad, who homered twice and drove in six runs for the Bears (8-7, 3-2).
His increase in power isn’t a coincidence. Kondrad has implemented a workout regimen designed by the strength and conditioning staff at Parkland College, where he’ll play next season.
“That’s definitely something I’ve focused on, hitting more balls over the fence,” he said. “Getting bigger and stronger can maybe result in some singles becoming doubles and some balls in the gap becoming home runs.”
Kondrad’s success involves more than physical strength and internal machinations, however. He goes through a battery of movements to get ready. The goal is for every part of his robust swing to be working in concert.
“I notice how his swing is very simple,” Lake Zurich junior left fielder Cash Kaczmarek said. “The ball gets off his bat fast, and it doesn’t even look like he’s swinging hard. It’s pretty clear that he’s the best hitter on the field, and I truly believe he’s going to get a hit every time he comes up — and not just a single.”
Kondrad’s hitting is the biggest reason for his high profile. But he’s also very good defensively. He enjoys third base in part because he can showcase his lively right arm, and there are other facets of the position that agree with his baseball sensibilities.
“I like that you have a short reaction time and it forces you to make quick decisions,” he said. “Knowing the hitters that are up and being in the right position are important, whether it’s a ball hit down the line or a slow roller.”
Kondrad hasn’t always been so comfortable on the field. His first exposure to varsity pitching two years ago proved challenging. Despite his travails during his sophomore season, however, Kondrad wasn’t going to do anything but work through the adversity.
“That was the first time he was unable to hit in his life,” Lake Zurich coach Scott DeCaprio said. “He hit under .200 after hitting almost .700 as a freshman. But it was important for him to experience better competition, to build a foundation for when he goes to college. He even thanked us for keeping him in the lineup.”
Despite Kondrad’s dip in production, he was respected enough within the program to be named a captain for the following season. He’s back in that role this year, and DeCaprio credits him for being the group’s most consequential voice.
“He’s a hard-nosed kid, and his teammates gravitate toward him because of his strong personality,” DeCaprio said. “He truly does give a voice for the team. He’s comfortable speaking up.”
For instance, Kondrad helped spearhead the effort to get the Bears to wear certain uniform colors during practices. He and other team leaders felt a jolt was needed after their spring break trip.
“We noticed, after coming home, a lack of focus on the team, so we wanted to change things up,” Kondrad said. “We wanted people to realize that practice is important and that it’s important to look like a team.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.
