There are myriad factors that brought Batavia’s Jack Watson to where he is now, both as a pitcher and as a person.
With age comes wisdom, and after the senior right-hander worked another big win for the Bulldogs, he reflected on a journey that began as a sophomore on the varsity.
He also lost his junior season to a back injury.
“Words can’t describe it,” Watson said. “I’ve had a rough high school experience, so this means a lot to me. To do what I’m able to do for my team and my town, I just love it.”
Watson was loving it Wednesday night, continuing his late-season roll by pitching Batavia to a 5-0 over Wheaton Warrenville South in the Class 4A South Elgin Sectional semifinals.
Tossing a complete game, Watson stuck out seven in posting his second straight postseason shutout for the Bulldogs (19-16), who will face York at 11 a.m. Saturday for the sectional title.
Over 14 postseason innings, Watson has struck out 15 and allowed no runs on nine hits and two walks, He scattered three hits and a walk against Wheaton Warrenville South (11-23).
A five-run first inning was all Batavia needed at Judson’s Hoffer Field in Elgin. Things got started with back-to-back doubles from Henry Saul and Ryne Woods, and RBI singles from Ryan Boe, Jacob Aseltine and Andrew Platt finished off the rally.
It was the same formula Watson used against Geneva in the regional semifinals.
“That’s what I was thinking about in the dugout,” Watson said. “I just went back out there and wasn’t trying to do too much.
“I didn’t have my best stuff. I just went out there and let my defense play the game for me. It’s much easier when you do that.”
As his catcher, Saul has had a front-row seat to Watson’s emergence. Varsity teammates for three seasons, Saul and Watson have grown up together.
“I’m so proud of him,” Saul said. “I’m so happy to see where he is right now, especially with how much work he’s put in, obviously being behind a little bit after missing a season. It’s hard to come back from that, but he’s done a great job.
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“I think our trust is through the roof. I love the dude. I love him on the field, off the field. Great teammate.”
Saul may not seem like the prototypical leadoff hitter, but a deeper dive shows why the Bulldogs put him in that spot. He has a high on-base percentage and likes to jump on fastballs early in the count, both desired qualities in the leadoff spot.
Add in the Illinois High School Association rules allowing for courtesy runners for catchers, and the fit is more natural than people might think. He had two hits Wednesday.
“I have a really good on-base percentage, so they get me on and send in a courtesy runner,” Saul said. “I get to sit down and relax.”
Saul set the tone with a double on the first pitch of the game, and the five-run first allowed Watson to settle in and dominate.
“First inning we came out ready to go and jumped on them early,” Batavia coach Alex Beckmann said. “They did a good job of shutting us down after that.
“I would have liked to have seen more, but it doesn’t matter how you win at this point.”
Saul, Watson and Jackson Bland all played varsity as sophomores on a team that ended up with a 6-18 record. Now, they’re playing for a sectional championship.
“It’s really awesome to see them finally get rewarded,” Beckmann said.
That’s particularly true of Watson, who has had quite a journey to get to this point.
“Early on in his career, it was him trying to throw as hard as he can, trying to strike everybody out,” Beckmann said. “He’s learned how to be a pitcher rather than just a really talented thrower.
“Just seeing him mature as a person and getting to know him the past three years has been awesome.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.