Mundelein senior Nick Szalony loves baseball, and he’s really good at it.
But as Szalony learned last year, too much of something, even something you love, can be counterproductive. Holding that key, Szalony has unlocked the best version of himself as the Mustangs’ shortstop and leadoff hitter.
“I didn’t live up to what I had hoped for in performing those roles, and it was messing with my mind,” he said. “I had never had that much pressure on me before.
“This year, I feel in control, I’m relaxed and it feels normal.”
Facing high expectations last season, Szalony did his job, hitting .245 with a .366 on-base percentage and 30 runs scored while playing solid defense as Mundelein won a share of the North Suburban Conference title.
But Szalony has been on fire this season, going 9-for-18 with seven RBIs, six runs scored and five stolen bases, all team highs for the Mustangs (5-1-1).
“The way he’s starting off, that’s what we saw in him when we put him in those two tough roles,” Mundelein coach Randy Lerner said. “We were proud of how he handled that last year. But as we’re seeing, when he’s able to perform at his highest level, he’s a real weapon.”
To try to do that last season, Szalony decided to devote all of his energy to baseball, and he quit basketball, a sport he had played in his first two years at Mundelein. But he came to regret that decision, so he sought out boys basketball coach Matt Badgley to ask about returning to the team for his senior season.
“My friends were all pushing me to come back, but I wanted to make sure it would be OK with him if I tried out,” Szalony said. “I was really nervous. We met at Chick-fil-A, and he said it was OK. It was the best Chick-fil-A meal I’ve ever had.”
Being back on the court turned out to be a revelation for Szalony. In the beginning of the season, he wasn’t playing a lot of minutes, but his typical directive was to come off the bench at the end of quarters to provide spurts of aggressive defense.
A string of teammates’ injuries in December opened up more playing time for Szalony, and he ultimately got into the starting lineup and played essentially the entire game in a late-season conference matchup against Lake Zurich.
“I went out on the basketball court and played with an intensity that I’d never played with before,” he said. “I feel like basketball really helped me in baseball, all of those quick movements you have to make. I got into great shape, and I feel faster for baseball. It slowed down baseball for me.”
Szalony’s final step was a weekend trip to Arizona with Mundelein senior pitcher Caden Earing and their mothers. They were slated to return the Sunday before baseball tryouts began, but travel delays pushed their arrival time well beyond midnight, making for a very quick turnaround for the before-school workout.
“That was a great weekend of letting my body just relax,” Szalony said. “I had to wake up at 5:00 am, but I was so excited and felt great that day. The coaches told me to play baseball like I played defense on the basketball court.”
Those positive vibes haven’t subsided. Szalony not only entered the season in peak condition and craving baseball, but also assumed more of a leadership role. The difference is plain to see.
“When he plays carefree and with nothing to lose, he’s a different player,” Mundelein junior second baseman Johnny Weiss said. “Last year, he wasn’t very outspoken, but a lot of people look up to him. He’s one of my mentors. He’s stepped into his role with a lot of confidence this year.”
The final weight off Szalony’s back is the fact that he’s not trying to impress the college recruiters he had hoped to attract last season. He had the chance to play baseball at the Division III level but has opted to attend Missouri.
Which leaves Szalony in the same spot where he first began playing the game.
“Baseball is supposed to be fun,” he said. “Obviously, there’s still pressure, but I don’t worry about the future anymore. I don’t look at stats anymore because that messes with me.
“Hitting a baseball is one of the hardest things to do, so I now focus on the fact that if you make an out seven out of every 10 at-bats, you’ll still have a great season.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.
