Batavia’s Ryan Rodriguez has had it since he was just a little kid.
Part of the Rodriguez’s ability on the baseball field has been hitting the ball hard. That hasn’t always translated into results for the junior right fielder, but when it does, he makes it count.
“It’s a natural thing,” Rodriguez said of his powerful swing. “I’ve always been like that. I’ve always had some bat speed, and when I see it well, it’s good.”
As the weather warms up, Rodriguez is indeed seeing the ball well.
He provided the big blow Tuesday for the Bulldogs in a 4-2 DuKane Conference win at St. Charles North. His two-run double on a two-strike pitch in the top of the fifth inning broke a 2-2 tie.
Junior starter Colin Jack settled in after a rough third inning to pitch a complete game for Batavia (9-9-1, 5-3). He struck out five while allowing two runs on three hits and issuing one walk.
Michael Vander Luitgaren also went 3-for-3 with a run for the Bulldogs. Mason Netcel tallied an RBI single for St. Charles North (10-8-2, 4-4). Nicholas Gnutek singled and scored.
Batavia trailed 2-1 going into the fifth, but Liam Darre started the rally with a one-out double. Vander Luitgaren walked and Ryan Johnson then forced a 2-2 tie with an RBI single.
Right after that, Rodriguez came up with the big hit.
“He has that potential,” Batavia coach Alex Beckmann
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said of Rodriguez. “It’s really good to see it start to click for him. The ball just jumps off his bat when he makes contact.“Really good confidence boost for him. Hopefully, he can use that a little bit moving forward.”
Rodriguez is happy to see things coming together as conference play gets into full swing.
“I was just trying to expand my zone a little more with two strikes,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve been seeing the ball pretty well. I’ve been up and down. These past few games have been a little better.
“It’s a good time for it. It gives me a lot of confidence.”
Beckmann isn’t the only person who sees potential in Rodriguez. He’s ranked 104th in the state for his class by Prep Baseball Report and the 11th-best third baseman, even though he played right field Tuesday.
He’s still working on putting all of that potential together consistently.
“That’s where I’m at,” Rodriguez said. “I struggled a little bit to start the season. Now that I’m performing a little better, I know that things are going to be on the up.”
The North Stars scored twice in the bottom of the third on Netcel’s single and a throwing error. From there, however, Jack got into a groove. He retired 13 of the final 14 batters he faced.
“We had a lot of positive counts at the plate and we didn’t do too much with it,” St. Charles North coach Todd Genke said. “I guess I have to credit their kid on the mound, but we had chances.”
Beckmann, meanwhile, has been encouraged by the progress of Jack. This was his second complete game of the season, joining a one-hitter against Glenbard North.
“The difference later in the game is he was getting ahead of guys and pitching with some pace and rhythm,” Beckmann said. “He’s been awesome for us.”
Beckmann also knows that Rodriguez has all the talent to take off. He’s hoping his recent run of success will help him do just that.
“At times he shows flashes,” Beckmann said. “It’s pitch selection, only a junior, trying to figure that stuff out. It’s just continuing to work, and he loves to work. He’s a big, strong kid.
“I think he’s about to break out for a really good season.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.