For Evergreen Park, a Simple Reminder Helped Team Turn Tide

The Evergreen Park baseball team dropped two games last weekend. On Friday, the Mustangs lost at home to Reavis 8-4. On Saturday, the team lost 7-6 at Lemont in a continuation of a postponed game from early April.

While it may have been hard for the Evergreen Park baseball team to rebound after a weekend like that earlier in the season, the team has a new perspective.

The Mustangs started the year 3-7, but have gone 8-6 since. While fewer fielding errors, better pitching and a higher batting average have turned the season around on the field, a new outlook on the game has been the catalysts for those results.

“We’re relaxed and trying to have some fun,” senior third baseman Brian Heisterman said. “It’s easier to play that way. At the beginning of the season, we were pressing for wins.”

Senior first baseman Josh Venhuizen said high expectations to start the year may have affected the team's play. “We were only predicted to have about five losses,” Venhuizen said. “And, then, when we lost four in the beginning of the year, we were like, ‘Oh, we’re done.’ ”

However, after a couple wins and after the ball started to bounce their way, the Mustangs found a way to be relaxed. Junior pitcher Jesse McLain said the team remembered to have fun again.

“Just having fun,” McLain said of a key to the year. “And going out there and playing the game for the reason that you started playing in the first place, playing for the love of the game.”

While winning the South Suburban Red title may be too difficult of a challenge at this point with the team boasting a 6-8 record in conference play, the Mustangs have their eyes set on a regional championship.

In a couple weeks, Evergreen Park takes on Illiana Christian in the Joliet Catholic Academy Regional. According to the Mustangs' players, the regional may be more difficult to get through than the sectional.

History isn’t on Evergreen Park’s side, as the team has lost four straight regional championship games.

However, the team is confident this is their year. “State’s always an option,” Venhuizen said. “We keep looking at it because we know we can go far in the playoffs.”

First, Evergreen Park has a rematch at Reavis on Tuesday. According to Venhuizen, concentration on detail will be key. “Definitely, a lot of hits and more precision in everything, fielding, hitting and pitching,” he said of how the team will win.

Heisterman said fielding is going to be key.

“In the first game, we didn’t play well at all in the field,” he said. “If we’re solid (on Tuesday) in the field, we’ll be fine. Our bats are going to do it.”