Sandburg senior Drew Drzonek has the perfect way to end his high-school career in mind.
The shortstop/pitcher would love a dream scenario in which the Eagles baseball team wins the Class 4A state championship on June 13 in Joliet, and the next day he heads down to Normal for the first day of football summer camp at Illinois State, where he is on the roster as a kicker.
“That would be pretty crazy,” he said. “Winning a baseball state championship and going straight into football would be great.”
At times this season, the Eagles have looked like a state-championship contender, especially after winning 10 straight to open the season.
But then things sputtered and they lost six of eight.
Last week, they got back on the right track with 4-2 and 4-0 wins over District 230 rival Andrew and a 7-4 victory against Oak Forest to improve to 15-6.
“This team is special because everyone is friends with each other,” Drzonek said. “Not every team has that. All of these guys can go hang out with each other and genuinely be friends.
“I think we brought that culture and that attitude and that togetherness to the team.”
Drzonek had two hits and drove in the first run of the game in the fourth inning of the 4-0 home victory over Andrew on May 30 played in steady rain. It was a nice breakout game for him.
“I’ve been struggling a little lately but at that moment, I changed my stance a little,” he said of the RBI single. “I got a little quicker to the ball and I was able to see the ball through and skipped through the zone to get the run in because that’s what we needed.”
Drzonek said that he changes his stance to make it a little wider when he has two strikes on him. After getting a two-strike hit in the second inning, he decided to try it throughout his at-bat in the fourth.
“It was nice to break the ice,” he said of his two-hit performance.
Sandburg coach George Fear said things are looking up for Drzonek at the plate.
“It’s coming for him,” Fear said. “Even his outs are hit hard.
“He’s a good kid and a good leader. He’s obviously a good athlete. He’s committed to kicking. But he’s one of these seniors who has led us very well.”
Last summer started a wild and fun chain of events for Drzonek as he helped the Hitters Black Upper Deck Baseball Club’s 17U team win the 145-team Prep Baseball Report national championship in Georgia.
St. Laurence standouts Cory Les, Mickey Lotus and Daniel Coyle were also on the team, and Drzonek’s father, Dave, was the coach.
“What a way to go out,” Drew said of winning the national championship. “It’s been a great experience. Nothing was more special than that especially having dad on the team, too.
“Then, going into football, we had a new coach (Sheamus Murphy) and a new culture and we made a statement (going 7-3). Then baseball and our team starts out 10-0, which is pretty incredible. It’s been great.”