The reinforcements have arrived for Manteno.
Senior Maddox Toepper and junior Brady Hespen have returned after being sidelined for health reasons most of the season.
Toepper walked twice and scored a run as the Panthers shut out visiting Kankakee 7-0 on May 13. Hespen pinch-hit and reached on an error.
Connor Harrod, Braden Campbell and Logan Bufford added two hits each for Manteno and Bufford scored twice.
Gio Arrigo got the win, allowing eight hits and three walks over six innings with six strikeouts. Carter Nunley worked a scoreless seventh.
Through last week, Toepper was batting .312 through seven games, while Hespen was 2-for-9 with two RBIs in nine games as a pinch hitter for the Panthers (17-8).
Toepper had offseason surgery because of a scoliosis diagnosis, while Hespen suffered a torn ACL during the football season.
“Maddox has helped a ton just with his versatility,” Manteno coach Matt Beckner said. “He’s one of those guys where he can play left, he can play third … I think he’s played four games for us (through the Kankakee game) and he’s played four different positions.
“And then when you get a (No.) 3 hitter from the previous year back in the lineup — he’s a .400 hitter so it adds a lot of depth for us as well.”
For the moment, Hespen is limited to pinch hitting.
“Waiting on him coming back, just to be able to run,” Beckner said. “That’s the biggest thing.”
Toepper has been a varsity starter since his sophomore year, so just watching from the dugout was tough.
“Playing the game is so much fun and not being able to play and seeing all my friends play … and have fun — it’s just kind of a mood killer,” Toepper said.
But he’s back. This is the final week of the regular season, and then the Panthers will look to win their second straight regional title.
“I’m just glad to be back, I’m looking forward to the rest of the season,” Toepper said. “Still working hard right now, trying to get more power and stuff.”
Hespen is working hard as well.
“I feel a little rough because I haven’t really gotten too many reps in yet,” he said. “I mean, it’s nice to come back and be able to do something after sitting down and not being able to participate with the team.”