Neuqua Valley’s Mark Wagner confirmed something was lacking in his game last spring.
After his freshman baseball season was canceled due to the pandemic, Wagner was left to pick up the loose ends. It was like he had to search in the lost and found.
And it wasn’t easy.
“I would say without a freshman season, I was not mentally ready to play last year and it showed,” Wagner said. “Now this year, the mindset is different.
“I am full speed now. I am more confident than I have ever been.”
The junior catcher came through Thursday, driving in a run with a sacrifice fly to help the Wildcats secure a 7-6 DuPage Valley Conference victory over Naperville Central.
Wagner’s poise and composure behind the plate have been a key for Neuqua (5-5-1, 3-2). A developing offensive game has allowed him to unlock his potential.
As a matter of fact, Wildcats coach James Thornton said Wagner had to fail in order to improve and learn from his mistakes.
“Mark has grown a lot over the year,” Thornton said. “He struggled a lot as a sophomore. The lights were a little bright for him.
“He was our top guy at catcher. We knew we were going to have growing pains with him. He also dedicated himself to getting better.”
Working in tandem with Wagner, junior pitcher Mark Mennecke (2-1) struck out six while giving up five walks and four hits.
Wagner’s emerging confidence and more relaxed style has been most noticeable in his interaction with the pitching staff.
“We have great arms with our starters,” Wagner said. “They are all going to go out there and pound the zone.
“I am always able to trust them with what they are feeling. The most important thing is you have to let your pitchers know that you have their back.”
As the team’s No. 7 hitter, Wagner is somewhat out of the spotlight. That also has contributed to his more settled state.
“I don’t think of myself necessarily as a power or contact hitter,” he said. “I’m just trying to hit the ball hard every time.”
Wagner is never going to regain his lost freshman season. It remains incalculable what that lost year has meant to so many high school athletes.
After a full varsity season, though, the game is different.
“Last year, everything came at me so fast,” Wagner said. “This year, I am able to slow the game down. I feel more in control of the game.”
On the flip side, Gabe Dickerson effectively mirrored Wagner while playing first base for Naperville Central (9-4, 1-4).
He also hits in the No. 7 spot. A sweet-swinging left-handed hitter, Dickerson had two hits for the Redhawks.
“I am pretty happy with my performance,” he said. “I have been trying to stay positive and keep the team happy. I am just trying to make plays.”
As lefty bat, he helps balance Naperville Central’s attack. He gives another perspective that opposing pitchers have to take into account.
“I feel like it’s very good for the lineup,” Dickerson said. “It switches up the pitchers and their routine. It keeps them off balance.”
Dickerson is part of a celebrated junior class for the Redhawks featuring Division I recruits in catcher Colin Barczi (Vanderbilt) and infielder/pitcher Pambos Nicoloudes (Illinois-Chicago).
“A lot of the juniors are really good friends, and those two are really good leaders,” Dickerson said. “They keep the team motivated.”
In his first year on the varsity, Dickerson has adopted a stripped-down mentality.
Less is more.
“My attitude as a hitter is just trying to stay simple and not try to do too much,” he said. “I have been trying to push the ball to the left side and just hustle.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.