St. Charles North third baseman Matt Kelly is one of those seniors who had to wait his turn to contribute at the varsity level. And as it turns out, that wait has been totally worth it.
After the North Stars graduated 16 players from last season’s team, Kelly knew the opportunity would be there to make a difference this spring, and he has taken advantage.
“I didn’t really play at all,” Kelly said of last year. “I spent all winter training for this, getting bigger and stronger. I expected to be the third baseman, a leader for this team, and I think I’ve done so.”
Kelly came through yet again Thursday in the North Stars’ 10-2 win over the host Bulldogs, hitting a two-run double as part of a five-run first inning in a Class 4A Batavia Regional semifinal.
While Kelly finished 3-for-4 for St. Charles North (21-12), Ben Auer added two hits, including a two-run double. Mason Netcel had two doubles and Matt Ritchie went 6 1/3 innings for the win, striking out eight and allowing two runs, one earned, on seven hits and three walks.
Liam Darre and Nolan Zimberoff each tallied two hits for Batavia (15-20-1).
Kelly has been a mainstay in the lineup for the North Stars all season, but one thing had eluded him until his first career postseason at-bat.
“It was his first extra-base hit of the year,” St. Charles North coach Todd Genke said. “He’s had a lot of hits for us, but not the extra-base type. He got into that ball.
“I’m really proud of him. Coming into the year, we were hoping he’d be the guy he is, but we just didn’t know. He didn’t have a whole lot of opportunities last season. It’s pretty neat to see that.”
Kelly was excited to get the North Stars going Thursday. His double broke a 1-1 tie in the first.
“That was awesome, just to get some runs on the board,” Kelly said. “It meant a lot to me.”
Batavia was a pitch away from getting out of the first up 1-0, but the Bulldogs wound up giving up five unearned runs and had to chase the rest of the day.
“We knew we’d have to weather the storm the first few innings,” Batavia coach Alex Beckmann said. “That’s kind of how playoff baseball games go. They did a better job of doing that than us.”
The North Stars only had three senior returnees for this season, including the inexperienced Kelly. Genke stressed to the group there were opportunities to be had — and for Kelly in particular.
“You’ve seen other guys come through and be leaders like Jackson Spring and Mike Buono,” Genke said. “Now it’s your turn. He really grabbed that. He’s a very unassuming kid, super smart.
“To see stuff like that, a kid come back and say I’m going to do my role and be that guy, is awesome. We pushed him. He’s worked his tail off. He’s seeing the benefits.”
Ritchie also settled in Thursday after a rocky start. That was no surprise to Kelly.
“They jumped on Matt, but he beared down and shoved for us and we got the bats going,” Kelly said. “I always have confidence with him on the mound. I know he’s going to perform.”
So does Genke, which is why he put Ritchie in the position to help St. Charles North reach the regional final. The North Stars play at 10 a.m. Saturday against South Elgin (22-10).
“I think he was a little nervous,” Genke said of Ritchie. “I went up to him about the fourth inning and was like, ‘Are you settled in now?’ He said, ‘Yeah, I’m good coach.’
“He’s a big reason why we’re here.”
Kelly, meanwhile, got his first playoff game under his belt. And now, he’s ready for more.
“I’m so excited,” Kelly said. “It will be awesome to get a chance to win a plaque.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
