When he found out his star player was moving out of state, Aurora Christian coach Andy Zorger had the reaction you might expect.
After his freshman year , Jake Kuntzendorf and his family moved to Texas. He opened the school year at Monsignor Kelly in Beaumont.
“I knew he was planning to move at the end of last year, and I was like, ‘Well, that stinks,’” Zorger said.
By the winter, however, Kuntzendorf was back at Aurora Christian.
“It was like early November, and I started hearing rumblings from students that kept in touch with Jake that he may be coming back,” Zorger said. “I didn’t really believe it.
“Sure enough, by the end of November, it was official that he was able to re-enroll. He had to sit out a month of basketball, then our (athletic director Dan Beebe) said he’s good to go.”
The Eagles, who have advanced to the Final Four in baseball for the first time in program history, are thrilled to have him back.
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Aurora Christian (31-2) plays at 10 a.m. Friday in the Class 1A state semifinals against Ottawa Marquette (30-2) at Dozer Park in Peoria.
Kuntzendorf (9-0) has been the Eagles’ ace pitcher, producing 98 strikeouts and only 16 walks in 64 1/3 innings. The sophomore right-hander also is batting .458, leads the team with three home runs and is tied with MJ Stavola for the team lead in doubles with 13.
“When I came back here, I didn’t think all of this was going to happen,” Kuntzendorf said. “I didn’t think we’d be as strong as we were last year. The guys were working hard and pushing each other, and we made it to state.”
Not often does a sophomore take on as much responsibility as Kuntzendorf has with the Eagles.
He credits his brother Bobby, a 2011 Aurora Christian graduate and former Northern Illinois pitcher, for his maturity. Bobby also coaches Jake’s travel team.
“I love having him be my teacher in baseball,” Kuntzendorf said of his brother. “It makes me a better player. I always played with his friends and they always included me.
“I always played up (in age) on travel teams, too. I have a taste for this, playing against higher-level competition. I’m kind of used to it.”
That mentality has allowed Zorger to put more on Kuntzendorf’s plate than he would most underclassmen.
“Physically, he was ready as a freshman,” Zorger said. “He’s definitely got a different look to him, a different feel in terms of game experience. The poise and mental toughness are unique for a kid his age.
“He wants the ball. He wants to be out there in the big spot. You can’t really teach that.”
Kuntzendorf received even more experience in his short time in Texas. His coach was former major-league pitcher Mark Petkovsek.
Where Petkovsek helped him on the mound, extensive work on his swing — including video — sparked a big step forward with the bat.
“I’m just so blessed to have that opportunity,” Kuntzendorf said. “(The move) was pretty crazy at first, ups and downs, but I felt like baseball helped me get through any struggles.”
He also realized his talent lined up with his Texas teammates.
“I knew I could do this,” Kuntzendorf said. “I brought that mentality back here.”
Kuntzendorf will have to wait until Saturday to pitch. Eric Hernandez and Hunter Thompson are scheduled take the mound Friday.
“We’re so ready,” Kuntzendorf said. “Even in practice, we’re all pumped and doing everything we can to win on Friday.
“The atmosphere (around the team) is unbelievable. I’ve never seen anything like this. I do envision it in my head how things are going to work out. It’s exciting.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.