Grayslake Central’s Riley Policht knows what it’s like to wait for one’s turn.
After doing that in 2022, the senior third baseman is proving he was more than ready to play once his name was called.
“Last year, being mostly on the bench, it was super hard to keep motivated,” Policht said. “Coming up in earlier years and on travel (teams), I played every single game. So it’s really special that they noticed that I was capable of playing.”
Policht is not only playing, but also standing out, especially as an anchor in the middle of the batting order for the Rams (20-3, 14-0), who won their 18th straight game on Wednesday and hold a big lead in the Northern Lake County Conference.
One of four team captains, the 5-foot-11 Policht entered the week batting .375 and ranked second on the team with 18 hits and 22 runs scored. His 16 RBIs were tied for second, and he had struck out just four times in 63 plate appearances.
All that after he got just 18 varsity at-bats last year.
Third base is a relatively new position for Policht, too, and he has been playing solid defense.
“I like to see kids who bide their time and find success,” Grayslake Central coach Troy Whalen said. “He’s a guy we count on every game, and on a team with several college commits, he’s the go-to guy for young players to seek advice from. That says a lot about him.”
Whalen’s last point especially resonates in a program that is used to having the baton passed from one successful group to the next.
As beneficial as Policht’s words can be to players waiting in the wings, he also appreciates what he can learn from teammates. He credits former third baseman Zach Hindman and current shortstop Sam Cooper for helping him defensively.
But Policht also mentioned reserves Jerry Miller and Jonathan Restrepo for keeping him on his toes.
More Top Picks Best Jar Openers For Arthritis
“They push me to be a better player,” Policht said. “I let them know they should always do their best and that they should come after my spot.”
Threde of a kind: It doesn’t matter where Wauconda’s Zach Threde plays in the field or even where he hits in the order.
It’s abundantly clear the 6-0 senior is a key factor in the Bulldogs’ fortunes this season.
“Even way back in T-ball, I played everywhere,” he said. “I was always taught that when you get an opportunity to make the most of it, and if you ask me to do something, I’ll do it.”
Threde is doing everything exceedingly well for the Bulldogs (8-9-1, 7-4), holding down either of the corner infield positions when he’s not starting on the mound, and he even took a turn in the outfield in a recent series. Batting fourth or fifth, Threde entered the week hitting .381 with a .542 on-base percentage. He had 15 walks and 20 RBIs in Wauconda’s first 18 games.
Threde’s efficiency on the mound stands out to Wauconda coach Shawn Rudolph. It’s not uncommon for Threde, a Wisconsin-Superior commit, to throw fewer than 80 pitches in a start.
“He’s a ground ball pitcher who throws a lot of low strikes,” Rudolph said. “Teams rarely hit him hard because he works fast and keeps the ball down.”
Threde typically stays ahead in the count and walked just five of the first 117 batters he faced over 23 innings.
His penchant for inducing weak contact is a nod to his pitching idol, Hall of Famer Greg Maddux, who made hitters uncomfortable without the benefit of a blazing fastball.
“I’ve always been taught that velocity isn’t something you need to get hitters out,” Threde said. “I’m a pitcher that prides myself on hitting my spots, working fast, rushing the hitters onto my pace. And hopefully that creates a lot of groundouts and popups.”
Greenberg pitches in: When a pitcher racks up strikeouts, he likely has a live arm.
That’s certainly the case for Highland Park’s Danny Greenberg. But the 6-2 senior’s path to success as the Giants’ closer has more to do with his transformation from thrower to pitcher.
“I’ve worked hard on mechanics and having more efficient use of my body,” Greenberg said. “When all of that detail-oriented stuff was worked out, we worked on velocity.”
The “we” in Greenberg’s orbit includes former Cubs and White Sox reliever Neal Cotts, with whom Greenberg works extensively through his travel program. Greenberg was tabbed for pitching duty the summer after his freshman season was canceled, and he has been on a fast track ever since.
Greenberg, who recorded 32 strikeouts in his first 16 innings for the Giants (9-10) this season, said he’s often able to throw his fastball past hitters but ranks his slider as his best pitch.
Greenberg isn’t sure where his baseball career will continue after he graduates, but he intends to become a teacher. In Highland Park’s peer mentoring program, he works with students with disabilities.
“I’ve felt like a baseball player for a long time, but I’ve found I have a love for helping peers,” Greenberg said. “It puts things in perspective and is one of the favorite things I get to do.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.