Quinn Borden has seen pretty much everything playing baseball for Manteno.
“Last year it snowed really bad and we had to cancel the game,” the senior designated hitter said after a 9-7 home win over Pontiac on May 16. “But we haven’t had bad conditions like that in a while. But yeah, it was kind of crazy today.”
How crazy? How about a delay after the batting cage down the right-field line was blown onto the field? Or the dust storm that blew through, turning what had been blue skies to a dirty shade of white.
That was all before Manteno’s lightning warning siren went off, forcing play to be suspended with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning. The game was eventually called in the Panthers’ favor, and they beat Bradley-Bourbonnais 6-1 a day later to wrap up the regular season at 20-7.
Before the weather went haywire against Pontiac, Borden had a productive day as the Panthers’ DH. He doubled home two runs and scored in a three-run second inning and singled and scored in a six-run third.
That continued his strong senior season, during which he’s hitting .338 with 21 runs, nine RBIs and an .890 OPS.
He’s bullish on the Panthers’ chances of winning their first IHSA regional title since 2021. They are top-seeded in the Class 2A U-High Regional, whose final is set for May 24 at Illinois Tech.
“It’s going pretty good,” said Borden, who spent two years at Providence before transferring to Manteno. “We’ve had a really good season. I think we can make something happen in the postseason.”
It’s also been a good year for Borden personally.
“I think I’m having a lot improved season from last year,” he said. “I’m making better contact, hitting the ball harder, trying to put my teammates in better positions to score.”
Borden has fit in well since his transfer, according to Manteno coach Matt Beckner.
“The kids love him,” Beckner said. “Great teammate, funny kid, likable guy. … Athletically, he’s naturally smooth.
“It’s just (a matter of) him not thinking too much. So when he stays within the approach … he’s doubling and tripling, driving it around (the park).”
While most of the current Manteno team will be back next season, Borden’s baseball career — which started when he was 5 years old — is winding down. It’s a bittersweet feeling.
“I’m definitely going to miss it,” he said. “It’s my favorite thing to do and next year, I don’t think I’ll be able to do it anymore. So it’s very sad, but yeah, gonna have a bunch of memories after this year.”