On Court or On Diamond, H-F's Fatoki Sets the Pace

Homewood-Flossmoor senior David Fatoki is one of the top starting pitchers on the Vikings' staff this spring. 

This past winter he was a starting guard on one of the top basketball teams in the area, helping the Vikings advance to the sectional semifinals.

Taking the ball to the mound and bringing the ball up the court have their  similarities and differences.

“In both, I have to come out and set the pace for my team,” Fatoki said. “It’s basically the same thing—I know I have to get off to a good start and pace myself for the game.”

Fatoki would like to play both sports in college, but right now if he had to choose, he would pick baseball. Washington University and the University of Rochester have expressed interest in having Fatoki play both sports.

“In basketball, we could get away with doing some bad stuff because we were just very good, where in baseball we have to use more of our know- how to play a real good game,” Fatoki said.

 In each position, Fatoki knows his margin of error is slim.

“(In basketball), I can’t make many mistakes because I am being counted on getting the ball to the rest of the team,” he said. “In baseball, I have to keep the game close so my batters have a chance.”

Fatoki kept the game close for his teammates in . He went five innings, giving up just one unearned run on four hits while striking out three with just one walk.

Fatoki has helped get the Viking baseball team off to an 8-1 start. He looks forward to enjoying the rest of his senior year and hopes to carry the team deep into the postseason, hoping his playoff experience in basketball will help.