Kevin Corcoran has taken a greater degree of ownership of Illiana Christian’s program this season.
Even though the ace left-hander was a catalyst for the Vikings’ run to the Class 2A state championship last season, he’s in a different headspace as a senior.
“I have to play a little bit more with a chip on my shoulder,” Corcoran said. “Last year we had nine seniors who could take you under their wing. This year we don’t. I’m a senior, and being able to play with not as many seniors, a lot of underclassmen, you have to learn how to set an example.
“How do you not go and argue with an umpire? How do you not go and argue with the other team? How do you set an example for these freshmen and these sophomores, so when they come in two, three years, it’s their time to play the right way of baseball? It’s just my mentality of instead of being a young underclassman and being an idiot sometimes, just being able to stay calm and remember you’re an example now.”
Corcoran set that example for Illiana in the first of its two Greater South Shore Conference showdowns against Hanover Central. The Webster recruit dominated to spin a two-hitter with 15 strikeouts and one walk as the Vikings won 3-0 at home in Dyer on Tuesday.
He also went 2-for-3 with a two-run single for Illiana (13-5, 8-0), which is ranked No. 7 in the Class 2A state coaches poll. The Vikings were scheduled to complete the series against Hanover Central (12-3-1, 6-1), which is ranked No. 6 in 3A, on Wednesday.
Even as the Vikings won a state title last season, they didn’t finish atop the conference standings. They finished tied for second with Griffith, two games behind the Wildcats.
So the victory on Tuesday was a significant step for Illiana.
“Last year we went through that rough patch, and that rough patch was conference games,” Corcoran said. “Stuff happens. This year we’re starting to find our identity again. We’re coming in, working hard every day. We’re gritty.
“Hanover is a school close to us. It’s a rivalry. But we were just able to play our game, not play their game.”
That rivalry also included basketball season, when Illiana pulled out a double-overtime win at Hanover Central. Corcoran, who averaged 6.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.6 steals in his first season as the Vikings’ starting point guard, was a focal point in that hotly contested game.
“Obviously I know a lot of these guys,” he said. “They like to play around with me. Stuff gets competitive, especially when fans were there.
“This time when we’re playing here, we had to make sure we didn’t play their games. They like to talk, and that’s just who they are. Nothing bad about it. They love to talk. They love to stay in the game. They love to try to mess with your head. You have to be able to stay level. We played very, very well (Tuesday).”
Corcoran lowered his ERA to 1.40 with 63 strikeouts and nine walks in 30 innings. He also was hitting a team-high .468 with 20 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.
Corcoran, who plays center field when he’s not pitching, concentrated on increasing his explosiveness in preparation for this season. He was recruited as a two-way player but envisions being primarily a pitcher in college.
“So it was like, ‘How do I not only throw harder, but how do I throw all four of my pitches for strikes?'” Corcoran said. “‘How do I put them where I want to, especially being able to get inside on right-handed hitters?’ It’s really tough, but you have to be able to do it. That was my offseason — really trying to get pitch command.”
Junior catcher Aaron Gouwens, who has started since his freshman season, believes Corcoran has succeeded on that front.
“He’s so much calmer out there,” Gouwens said. “He knows what’s going on. He’s more experienced. He’s more comfortable with getting in that inside corner, which really ties up some of the batters.
“Kevin went out there and did his thing. He hit his spots. He’s just been great so far this year.”
Corcoran was outstanding last season too. He posted a 1.83 ERA with 81 strikeouts and 17 walks in 52 ? innings, and he hit .477 with four homers, 36 RBIs and 11 stolen bases.
“He’s a lot the same person,” Illiana coach Jeff VanderWoude said. “He’s always been a winner. He’s always competed really well. His velo is up. I know he’s throwing harder, putting in the work in the offseason.
“But I’ve had Kevin since he was 8 or 9 years old. So I know what type of ballplayer he is. He did a really good job with his presence out there, just being centered, being within himself and executing his pitches one at a time. He reminds me of the playoffs last year. You tell him to put it here, put it here, put it there, he does it. He misses one, but then it’s over, and he’s back on to the next one. It wasn’t like miss, miss, miss. It was just refocus.”
Corcoran said golf actually was his first sport. He traveled for tournaments while he was growing up and still enjoys playing as often as possible. His brother Van is a sophomore on Illiana’s boys golf team.
His father, Kevin, who played golf at Lake Central, is an assistant for Illiana’s baseball team.
“It’s actually been awesome,” Corcoran said. “I’ve had him and VanderWoude — he’s been my travel ball coach since I was 9, so I’ve really had VanderWoude my entire life. He’s really learned when it came to high school of letting me do my thing, not trying to be that annoying dad. Be a coach and be an influence to other kids.
“He came into this even before I came into high school because he loves kids, he loves baseball. It’s him being more of an example to these kids and getting them prepared for life.”