Junior right-hander Jake Niedzwiedz is in his first varsity season for West Aurora.
When a pitcher is going through that stage of his career, continued growth is always an encouraging sign. And he appears to be blossoming through the first two months of spring.
Monday’s conditions also certainly helped.
“It was a nice job, coming out and pounding the zone,” Blackhawks coach John Reeves said. “With the wind blowing in, you can challenge a little more. They hit a couple balls that just died.”
Niedzwiedz came alive and thrived, striking out eight and pitching a complete game in a 5-0 Southwest Prairie West victory over host Oswego. He scattered three hits and two walks.
According to Reeves, it was the best outing of the season for Niedzwiedz (4-1). At the same time, West Aurora (9-8, 2-3) set the tone by jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
Carson Bantz added a two-run single in that surge.
“For a junior to be progressing like that, hopefully that’s the thing Jake is just going to be doing,” Reeves said. “He threw all right early in the season, but not against as good of hitters as Oswego.
“It was a nice performance by him.”
Drake Dunnett led off the third inning with a double for Oswego (11-7-1, 2-2) but was stranded there by Niedzwiedz.
Late last season, Niedzwiedz was called up to throw a few innings. But he wanted to make more of an impression this spring.
“I was just hoping to be a starter on this team for conference games,” Niedzwiedz said. “If I found myself hitting in the lineup, I would say I would love to, but I was mostly focused on pitching.”
Niedzwiedz features a fastball, curveball and an emerging change-up that popped up on Reeves’ radar last season when he arrived on the varsity.
He used all three pitches Monday to keep the Panthers off-balance. Working with a four-run lead, and the fact the wind was howling in, also worked to his advantage.
“I knew they were a good hitting team so I knew I had to locate my pitches, get ahead early,” Niedzwiedz said. “I was able to do that.
“I knew all I had to do was throw strikes and let them hit, especially since the wind was blowing in. I felt really good.”
Oswego coach Joe Giarrante lamented another slow start to the game, something that has plagued the Panthers at times this season.
“We were a little flat coming out,” Giarrante said. “It showed. They jumped on us early. We never could regain any momentum. You have to be ready to play. That’s what it comes down to.
“We have to get better at starting games. It’s a mentality thing. We have to figure it out.”
Niedzwiedz’s older brother, Ryan, was a star for the Blackhawks, but mostly with the bat and at shortstop. Jake said that his calling card has always been on the mound.
“He’s always been the hot swinger,” Jake said of his brother. “I’ve always been the pitcher in the family. He was always an inspiration to me, ever since I was like 7.”
Jake Niedzwiedz has been seeing more action at the plate as of late and is heating up there as well. He doubled and scored an insurance run in the sixth Monday.
“For the last week, he’s been tearing the cover off the ball,” Reeves said. “We have to find ways to get guys in the lineup when they’re hot. We’re progressing offensively.”
The main focus remains on the mound, however. Niedzwiedz is doing exactly what Reeves hoped he would this season.
“We had high hopes for him,” Reeves said. “We definitely thought about this with him.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
