After working on his swing in the offseason, Yorkville’s Kam Yearsley was in a funk.
The junior center fielder started this spring 0-for-9, but fortunately, he had older brother Cole around — or just a phone call away — to help him get through it.
“I was struggling this winter,” Kam Yearsley said. “Whenever I needed help, I called him and he was there. He knows when I’m off and when I’m on. He knows everything.
“It’s just amazing to have him.”
Whatever was wrong has been fixed, and emphatically so.
Since his slow start, Kam Yearsley is 32-for-50 at the plate, a .640 average. He’s scored 23 runs and driven in 23 for the Foxes (11-8), with seven doubles, two triples and two homers.
“He’s having one of those years you might remember 10 or 15 years from now,” Yorkville coach Tom Cerven said. “It’s not like he’s been up or down. He’s always been consistent.”
Cerven has coached both Yearsley brothers. Cole, who’s now playing at Southeastern Community College in Iowa, has committed to Southern Illinois in Carbondale.
The difference between the two brothers is simple to him.
“Kam is a much more powerful kid,” Cerven said. “Cole was more fluid. Cole was the scalpel and Kam is the hammer. Everything he does is power, and it’s physical and violent.
“The one thing they share is passion for the game. They both want to compete every day.”
Kam bats third in the order this season for Yorkville, right behind junior shortstop Nate Harris, a Northwestern recruit. It was a bit of a surprise.
“I was thrown off,” Yearsley said. “Wouldn’t it be better to have him at three and me at two? It’s been a crazy year. Sometimes he gets intentionally walked and I’m like, ‘Why the heck are they doing that?'”
Cerven had a method to his madness, and both Harris and Yearsley are thriving in fueling the Foxes.
“The theory in hitting Nate two was getting him as many at-bats as possible and putting pressure on the other team,” Cerven said. “If you work around Nate, Kam is there to make you pay.”
Yearsley, having quite a year, has done just that.
“I don’t want to get too full of myself,” he said. “I feel like this is my time to go on a run, and hopefully it stays for the rest of the season.”
Hot Polubinski: Oswego East has won five straight conference games. The play of Mike Polubinski and his brothers, Josh and Zach, are a big reason why.
Mike Polubinski walked four times Friday in a 10-8, eight-inning win over Lincoln-Way East. He added a three-run homer in an 8-3 win, a multihit game in a 4-1 win and then a double and a triple in a 7-6 series-opening win, all against Minooka.
This spring, he’s hitting .508 with eight doubles, two triples and three homers.
Josh had three multihit games last week. Zach had a multihit game Friday.
The senior trio attacks in waves, hitting in the Nos. 3-4-5 spots in the order.
“Everyone thinks we’re the same person,” Mike said. “When I get to first, they’re confused like, ‘Weren’t you just here?’ We’re all pretty similar in the way we play.
“Our senior season, we’re all performing. It’s a lot of fun.”
Versatile Gilroy: Junior Brady Gilroy has been an offensive stalwart this season for Burlington Central, but he’s also helping with positional versatility.
An outfielder by trade, Gilroy has been filling in at shortstop the days after regular shortstop Michael Person pitches.
“He’s playing out of position at short,” Burlington Central coach Kyle Nelson said. “He’s a center fielder, but he’s a very good shortstop as well, so we can give Michael’s arm a little break after he pitches.
“He’s doing everything we ask of him, getting on base, playing good defense. He’s a fantastic player.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.