Baseball notes: Geneva with perfect start, Burlington Central rockets out of the gate

The 2024 baseball season is beginning to hit its stride a couple weeks in.

With conference play right around the corner, here’s a look at some of the top teams in the area so far:

Stempowski, Geneva off to perfect start

To say that Geneva senior Nate Stempowski has been off to a hot start this season would be a bit of an understatement.

During the team’s 6-0 start, the Judson commit has led the Vikings in batting average (.688), hits (11), extra-base hits (seven), home runs (two), RBIs (19) and slugging percentage (1.500). He became the first Vikings player to hit for the cycle since 1992 when he did it against South Elgin in the season opener.

But it’s not just Stempowski providing fireworks in the Vikings’ lineup.

Seniors Sam Seykora and Kollin Mickelsen both are averaging .429 at the plate and have accounted for 20 of the Vikings’ runs at the top of the order. Senior Chase Sorrentino has only five hits so far this season, but four of them have gone for extra bases and he has driven in eight runs. Senior Joseph Cosentino has only two hits – a triple and home run – but has a .667 on-base percentage thanks to five walks and seven hit by pitches.

Pitching also has been a strong point for Geneva. Seniors Seth Kisner (2-0, 3.38 ERA, 13 strikeouts in 11 innings) and Bryce Breon (2-0, 2.62 ERA, nine strikeouts in eight innings) have been solid starters. Seniors Josh Feucht (1-0, 0.95 ERA, eight strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings) and Shane Webb (0.00 ERA, one save, three strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings) have been solid out of the bullpen.

“A 6-0 start is a great confidence booster as we prepare for conference play [this week],” Vikings coach Brad Wendell said via email last week. “Yet we also know that conference play is like a new season and each opponent in the DuKane Conference can beat you. The DuKane is filled with good teams. We are excited about the opportunity and challenge the conference season presents.”

Geneva improved to 8-0 with a 11-2 win over Elk Grove on April 5 and a 13-1 victory over Prospect on April 6.

Experienced Burlington Central excels early

Burlington Central came into this season banking on an experienced roster to take it far into the postseason. And in their first six games, the Rockets have shown they have what it takes.

Michael Person has provided a spark for the Rockets in the batter’s box and on the mound. The senior is batting .318 with two home runs, three stolen bases, four RBIs and a team-leading eight runs. In three starts, he’s posted a 2.83 ERA and has 17 strikeouts in 11 1/3 innings.

Chase Powrozek is 2-0 on the mound with a 2.10 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 10 innings. At the plate, he’s batting .235 with a home run, three stolen bases and six RBIs.

Mainly relievers, seniors A.J. Payton and Wisconsin-Whitewater commit Brady Gilmore also have been crucial to the Rockets’ success.

Catcher Jake Johnson has been driving in runs from the cleanup spot.

Burlington Central moved to 5-2 on the season with an 8-0 win over Dundee-Crown on April 5.

Other Kane County teams

St. Charles North went 4-1 during the Warrior Classic in Nashville, Tennessee, to move to 4-2-1 on the season.

Kaneland was 4-1 after a successful out-of-state tournament but fell 9-0 to Belvidere and 4-3 to Wheaton Academy on April 5 and 2-1 to DeKalb on April 6 to even its record at 4-4.

Batavia has struggled in the early part of the season. After winning its first game against Glenbard West, the Bulldogs dropped five straight before winning their final two games at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Batavia fell to 3-7 on the season with a 5-2 loss to Waubonsie Valley on April 5 and a 3-0 loss to McHenry on April 6.