When Lincoln-Way Central pitcher Joey Zietara gets into big trouble on the mound, he usually finds something small to concentrate on.
Most times, the senior right-hander uses a pebble.
“I look at one tiny pebble on the ground,” he said. “I wait until everything clears out of my head. Right when that pebble clears my head, I get back on the mound and take a deep breath.”
Zietara made fans take a deep breath in his two innings of relief Friday night. He struck out a batter with runners at second and third to end the sixth, then finished off the seventh with a dramatic strikeout.
That allowed senior catcher Braden Meyer to hit the game-winning single that scored Michael Gurgone in the bottom of the seventh for a wild 4-3 victory over Lincoln-Way East in front of hundreds of fans in New Lenox.
Liam Arsich tripled in a run and scored on a wild pitch in the first for Lincoln-Way Central (22-6) and stole home in the third during the SouthWest Suburban Conference crossover game.
Matt Hudik, Justyn Hurt and Jake Newman each drove in runs for Lincoln-Way East (20-13).
Zietara picked up the pebble trick from something he heard about professional baseball player Trevor Bauer. It came in handy Friday.
Lincoln-Way Central’s Joey Zietara (2) receives congratulations from his coach after getting through an inning against Lincoln-Way East during a SouthWest Suburban Conference crossover game in New Lenox on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)
“It helps me calm down,” said Zietara, a Morton recruit. “This was a big atmosphere, and it helps. I still hear things, but I just hone in on the glove and throw strikes.”
And if there are no pebbles — such as on a turf field?
“I’ll focus my eye on something little,” he said.
He appreciated Meyer, his batterymate, coming up with the big hit that drew a massive celebration in the infield after the single.
“Oh, my God, I knew he was going to clutch up for us,” Zietara said of Meyer. “He always does.”
Well …
“I’ve been in situations like this before, but I haven’t come through too much,” Meyer said. “This one felt good.”
“I knew I had to put the ball in play, and I stayed on it and got it done.”
Lincoln-Way Central’s Braden Meyer (4) gets met by Collin Mowry (17) and his teammates after a walk-off winner against Lincoln-Way East during a SouthWest Suburban Conference crossover game in New Lenox on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)
Meyer credited Zietara for his two strong innings in a game that had a playoff atmosphere.
“He came out with a lot of energy and he came out competitive,” Meyer said. “He did what he needed to do. His fastball came in really heavy. He backed it up with a great off-speed pitch.
“He got the job done for us.”
Lincoln-Way Central coach Mitch Nowicki said Zietara opened the season as a starter but has proven to be valuable out of the bullpen for the Knights, who have won 11 straight.
“He worked though some kinks,” Nowicki said of Zietara. “He’s been out of the bullpen and has had four consecutive really good outings for us.
“He comes in and shuts down Marist for five innings. He shuts down Minooka for five. He was ready to extend against East, and we trusted him if we would have gone extras.”
Lincoln-Way Central’s Joey Zietara (2) checks the runner on first base before delivering a pitch against Lincoln-Way East during a SouthWest Suburban Conference crossover game in New Lenox on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)
Lincoln-Way Central’s last loss was a 17-6 setback to Andrew on April 22, seemingly a low point in the season. It put the Knights at 11-6, but after beating Andrew 4-2 the next game, the Knights have run the table.
“It’s all teamwork,” Zietara said “At the beginning of the year, it was kind of rough. Then we started playing together as a team, and it’s been really nice.”
Zietara said he can’t recall how he got started in baseball. He grew up playing basketball and football, but he pared it down to baseball once he got into high school.
“I love the intensity,” Zietara said. “I love it when people are chirping at me. I love it. I get fired up.
“And I love winning.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
