Bartlett’s Josh Colaizzi has a clear vision of how he wants to lead off every game.
The sophomore outfielder wants to jump on the first pitch, crack an extra-base hit and steal third if need be, setting up the Hawks up right away by scoring a run.
“If I get my fastball, it’s always awesome to start the game off with a first-pitch double,” Colaizzi said. “One pitch and we already have a runner in scoring position.”
It’s that mentality that has led Bartlett coach Chris Baum to install him in that spot virtually since the first day Colaizzi showed up on campus.
“That’s what our leadoff man needs to do,” Baum said. “He sets the tone for the rest of the team. He’s done that since last year. He’s kind of the one guy that everybody looks for to get us going.
“If we can get the bottom of the lineup going, he’s going to start clearing bases and stuff like that.”
After hitting into some bad luck early in the season, Colaizzi has been executing his plan to perfection during a 12-game hitting streak. In that span, he’s batting 18-for-37 with 12 runs, eight doubles, a home run and 10 RBIs.
“I was hitting everything hard at the beginning of the year,” Colaizzi said. “I just couldn’t find a gap. I kept my mindset, my approach, the same. Don’t try to do too much, stay simple and it will come.
“This is baseball. It’s been working out great recently.”
Bartlett’s Josh Colaizzi (27) puts on batting gloves before his at-bat against Larkin during an Upstate Eight Conference game on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (Nate Swanson / The Beacon-News)
Sophomore pitcher Brandon Pelz, who has been on varsity with him since last spring, loves seeing Colaizzi do his thing at the top of the lineup.
“Once he scores it’s like, ‘All right, this game is ours. There’s no way we’re going to lose this,’” ‘” Pelz said.
Baum also knows that leading off comes with a built-in leadership role. Even though by age Colaizzi is only a sophomore, that’s not what Baum sees out there.
“He plays from a personality and leadership standpoint like he’s been here for four years,” Baum said. “It puts a smile on a coach’s face when you can look at somebody that’s as far along as he is and you sit there and go, ‘He’s only a sophomore.’
“The sky’s the limit as far as I’m concerned.”
While Colaizzi knows he’s primarily an outfielder and expects to play out there in college some day, he has emerged as a force on the mound as well.
The Hawks are loaded with veteran pitchers, however, so Colaizzi has been moved to the closer role, with the exception of a four-inning start in an 8-3 win over South Elgin.
Bartlett’s Josh Colaizzi (27) runs back to the dugout after being tagged out by Larkin’s Peyton Wemken (18) during an Upstate Eight Conference game on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (Nate Swanson / The Beacon-News)
The results have been just as impressive as his hitting. He’s 2-0 with four saves and an 0.52 ERA in nine appearances over 13 1/3 innings. He has struck out 25, allowing five hits and six walks.
“At this particular point with the way this roster is constructed and his role in the lineup and in the outfield, the closer role has kind of fit him,” Baum said. “It’s just a matter of what’s going to be in the best interest of the team.
“Having that ability to lock things down in the seventh inning, especially in one-run games, we know we can rely on him.”
Colaizzi is totally on board with the plan.
“I like closing a lot because I just get to come in and throw it as hard as I can and snap my breaking balls in there,” Colaizzi said. “I’ve done well in that role.”
It may not seem like Colaizzi is a sophomore, but that is the reality. It helps keep him grounded.
“It’s great, but our job isn’t done,” Colaizzi said. “I haven’t done enough. I just want to keep on doing better and better and keep on going.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
