Growing up, Aurora Central Catholic senior Zach Stuck became a catcher by chance.
Sure, he was bigger than most of his classmates at the time, which always helps. More importantly, however, he also had something his other teammates didn’t.
“I was just the kid with the gear,” Stuck said. “When I was 8 or 9, I had the gear and I had a decent arm. I got slotted there for a while.”
Much like a singer being hired to join a band because he had a microphone, Stuck stayed behind the plate throughout his junior season for the Chargers.
But with plans for Carthage, his college destination, to use him in the outfield, Stuck switched to manning center field this spring for Aurora Central Catholic.
“I could always run,” Stuck said. “It kind of worked out that I can also play outfield.”
When Rich Swann returned to coach ACC after a 16-year hiatus, he brought his son, Aiden
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, with him from West Aurora.Aiden Swann now handles the catching duties, allowing Stuck to use his athleticism in the field.
“The transition has been pretty smooth so far,” Stuck said. “I’ve had no issues.
“In my youth, I played a lot of outfield, and once I got to high school, it was all catcher. I have some speed I can use. It’s been pretty easy for now.”
It’s not often a player goes from starting every game behind the plate one season and locking down one of the most important — and athletic — positions the next.
Rich Swann saw that ability in Stuck, though.
“He’s one of our most athletic kids,” Swann said. “It gave us the opportunity to use him as an athlete. He’s been pretty good the first couple games.
“He’s a heck of an athlete. We knew that. He gives us some versatility and does a great job out there.”
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Stuck said he knew a position change would come eventually. Carthage shared that vision. He’s getting a head start on the transition before heading to Kenosha in the fall.
“Carthage did tell me I would be an outfielder, so it kind of worked out I got out there this spring,” Stuck said. “I hope to make an impact right away when I get there.”
While there are a few things Stuck misses about catching, he’s content with the move.
“Throwing guys out, I miss that part,” Stuck said. “I’m happy out in center field, though.”
Surprise, surprise: No-hitters are rare at every level, so Marmion’s Zach Bostrand and Ethan Flores combining for one Tuesday in a 2-0 win over St. Charles North was significant.
It just took time for everyone involved to realize what had happened.
“To be honest with you, I didn’t find out until after,” said first-year coach Aaron Nieckula, in his second game at Marmion. “One of my coaches said that it was a no-hitter. I had absolutely no idea.
“I was so wrapped up in the game. I knew our pitchers were dominating, but I had no idea.”
Nieckula said Bostrand and Flores were also unaware of the achievement at the time. Bostrand worked the first four innings and Flores followed with three, both striking out four.
“They’ll be two of our most dominant arms,” Nieckula said. “They just happened to have the ball the second day. They worked ahead, pitched to contact and let the defense do its thing.”
Change in plans: Expectations were sky high coming into the season for Harvest Christian.
With Jared Rodriguez and Sam Rohlfing both recovered from injuries and Jacob Janisko also returning this spring, the Lions boasted pitching depth that was the envy of Class 1A.
The Lions have already faced adversity this season, however.
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Janisko was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament just before the season began. After serving as a designated hitter, the Indianapolis recruit decided on surgery.
“It’s heartbreaking to lose him,” Harvest coach Matt Ellett said. “He did it in December. What’s crazy is, the last bullpen, he threw 92 (mph) with a partially torn UCL.
“When he gets it fixed he can go on and do some great things. We have so much depth without him — I don’t think our expectations are going to change. I still think we can make a deep run.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.