Highland Park Baseball has opened its season strong, with nine wins and three losses heading into their second conference matchup. They are led by senior captains Paxton Feeder, Shamar Wilson, Josh Midanek, and Cooper Kasdin. After dominating the Niles West Wolves 8-1 in game one and 15-6 in game two, they look to continue their four-game win streak against the Maine East Blue Devils.
While many players have contributed to their strong start this season, their two college commits, Shamar Wilson and Ben Hilgart, have been especially impactful. Notably, Wilson began the season with a leadoff home run in their 11-12 loss to Rolling Meadows. The impact of the seniors goes beyond their on-field performance, as their leadership has been especially influential to the younger players on the team.
“During the Florida trip, I felt like the seniors’ leadership was a big part of our success,” junior Simon Rose said.
But the seniors and captains are not the only ones behind the Giants’ fast start this year.
The juniors have also been crucial, led by second-year varsity player Simon Rose. His glove at shortstop, along with his timely hitting, has been instrumental to the Giants’ early success. He has also taken a significant step forward as a pitcher. In Friday’s win over Niles West, he recorded six strikeouts and added a double at the plate.
Junior pitcher Owen Loftus has also emerged as a strong presence on the mound with his reliable arm. In the Giants’ 17-3 blowout win against Waukegan, he struck out eight hitters. Overall, contributions like these from the junior class have added depth to an already talented roster.
The Giants hope these strong junior contributions will help them defend the CSL North title. With games coming up against conference foes Maine East, Niles West, and Maine West, the team’s ability to consistently execute will undoubtedly be tested. Importantly, in close games, the Giants can rely on their captains for guidance and leadership.
“The captains have done a good job relaying information about the pitchers to the other guys, which has helped each of us have a good plan at the plate,” Hilgart said.
However, support from the captains is not limited to giving good advice; it also comes in the form of runs. During a thriller against Crystal Lake Central Tigers, the Giants were down 7-4 heading into the top of the seventh inning. With the Tigers needing just two outs to win the game, a big single from Wilson drove in a run, cutting the deficit to two. Next, a single from Rose brought in another run, followed by a heads-up play by Wilson, who scored on a throwing error. Later in the inning, with the game tied and the bases loaded, Midanek hit a clutch sacrifice fly that brought in the go-ahead run. The Giants would go on to win the game, thanks in large part to the contributions of their senior captains in a high-pressure moment.
While their non-conference games brought lots of excitement, their main focus remains on conference play. Despite the added pressure, they hope that the lessons they learned from those earlier games will help them in key situations moving forward.
“I think we played some challenging teams in our non-conference games, and I think the experience we got from that will help us defend our CSL North title,” Wilson said.
With a four-game win streak heading into Monday’s game, the Giants have positioned themselves as a team to beat this year in the CSL North.