Illiana Christian senior Kevin Corcoran has grown up with teammate Isaac VanderWoude.
Corcoran has witnessed a slightly different, more developed VanderWoude this season.
“He’s always been a heck of a worker,” Corcoran said. “He works his butt off. For him, it was trying to translate, ‘How do I (play) high school baseball and not be the hero and just be me?’ This year, he found out, ‘OK, I’m going to play my game, and whatever it is, it is.’
“Obviously, it’s turning out to be a big success.”
VanderWoude, a junior shortstop who has committed to play at Virginia, is hitting .438 with team highs of five homers, 20 RBIs, 23 runs and 10 stolen bases.
He went 2-for-3 with a bunt single, a triple, two runs and an RBI on a sacrifice fly as Illiana topped visiting Griffith 7-2 in a Greater South Shore Conference game in Dyer on Tuesday.
More Top Picks Best Asics Shoes With Good
“He’s been one of the hardest workers I’ve ever met,” Corcoran said. “He’s constantly working. But staying within himself this year was a big thing for him.
“It was at a point where everything needed to be fixed. ‘Oh, I flew out. I need to fix this.’ This year it’s not, ‘I need to fix everything.’ It’s, ‘OK, my swing’s good. I’m confident. I’m going to go get my pitch.’ It’s him not being in his own head. It’s more about saying, ‘I’m going to play my game, and my game’s good enough.'”
VanderWoude already had been quite good in his career. He hit .364 with a homer, 19 RBIs and 18 stolen bases as a freshman. As Illiana won the Class 2A state title last year, he hit .329 with 16 RBIs and 20 stolen bases.
But VanderWoude indeed has been even better this season.
Notably, he has five home runs after not hitting any last year. He attributed his surge to the 15 pounds he added, getting to 185 on his 6-foot frame.
“It’s been gaining weight and just focusing on different parts of my swing,” VanderWoude said. “Everyone says more power will come as you grow. So right now, it’s just kind of clicking.”
His father, Jeff, Illiana’s coach, has noticed the increased overall production.
“He’s locked in,” Jeff VanderWoude said. “When you get locked in, good things happen. He works all the time. His hard work in the offseason is paying off.
“But I’m more impressed with his leadership. That took a big step this year. He’s vocal. He’s out there, he’s talking the game a lot. That’s the biggest thing I’m impressed and happy with.”
Isaac VanderWoude acknowledged that.
“For my part, I’m just trying to be a leader on the team and make sure I’m an example for the younger guys,” he said. “Show them what it looks like to be part of this program, what we do around here and the culture we’ve created and we’re still trying to create.
“I’m a worker, and I’ve just been focusing on the little things, personally and as a team. When we all focus on the little things we’re supposed to do, we all come together, and we all get better.”
The Vikings (11-4, 7-0), ranked No. 5 in the Class 2A state coaches poll, should be contenders to repeat. The 2022 team was more experienced and composed largely of returnees. This team is more of a mix of veterans and newcomers. But Isaac VanderWoude sees parallels.
“We’re starting to click, and we’re starting to get that chemistry our team last year had,” he said. “We’re starting to buy in as a group. As the season goes on, I just hope more and more we can click and just keep on winning.
“We’ve been trying to come together as a team and just play for each other, knowing that if you make an error, the person behind you has your back and will pick you up. It’s just keeping the energy throughout the game, whether we’re up big or down big.”
Isaac VanderWoude, whose sister Lydia is a standout sophomore shortstop for Illiana’s softball team, continues to enjoy playing for his father.
“It’s special,” Isaac VanderWoude said. “It’s pretty awesome. Sometimes you’re at practice, and he might tell you one thing, and you might disagree. So it’s hard sometimes with the father-son relationship. But you just have to remember he’s your coach.
“But it is awesome every day to come here and play the sport I love with my dad.”