Looking out onto the field, it’s hard to miss St. Charles East’s Joey Arend.
From the bushy blond hair coming out of the back of his hat to the diamond earrings to the pink bat, the junior outfielder/pitcher definitely stands out for the Saints.
“Honestly, being flashy, I like to think of it as look good, play good, one of those things,” Arend said. “It’s just part of who I am. I want to look good on the field. I’ve acknowledged it before.
“I’m at the point of my career where it’s like people can judge me all they want. That’s not going to affect how I play or my mentality.”
Derek Sutor, who’s in his first year as St. Charles East’s coach, admitted 20 years ago that look may not have gone over very well. It’s a different game in 2024, however, and Sutor embraces it.
“That’s the game nowadays,” Sutor said. “It’s style and flair. It’s all about trying to let the kids be themselves. The old coach in me probably would have said, ‘You can’t have this, you can’t have that.’
“I think part of being a coach now is you have to let the kids be themselves. If they’re happy and content, it usually brings out the best in them.”
That certainly seems to be the case with Arend.
St. Charles East outfielder Joey Arend takes batting practice in St. Charles on Monday, March 25, 2024. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)
On a team dominated by seniors, Arend broke out in a big way last season. He was the DuKane Conference’s pitcher of the year and one of the Saints’ key offensive pieces as well.
Last spring, Sutor saw Arend’s work from across the field as an assistant coach at Geneva. He’s happy to have Arend on his side now.
“Coming in from the outside, you always hear about him,” Sutor said. “Facing him was no fun.
“Coming here and having the opportunity to work with him and get to know the kind of person he is, he’s taken it upon himself to be a leader this year. So far, it’s been pretty exciting.”
That’s something Arend didn’t have to worry about as a sophomore. With eight senior starters on the field, he went about his work quietly.
St. Charles East’s Joey Arend reacts to teammates during practice in St. Charles on Monday, March 25, 2024. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)
“Last year he took everything in, you could tell,” assistant coach Mark Foulkes said. “It was a big learning experience for him. This year, you can really tell he’s taking that on with the guys.
“I think he realizes, even though I’m not a senior, this is my group. Joe’s personality has come out so much.”
That’s just what Sutor needs as he takes over for longtime head coach Len Asquini.
“He’s been more of a vocal guy,” Sutor said. “He understands the spotlight. He’s trying to make his teammates better.”
Arend’s talents led him to be a two-way recruit for Xavier. He’s certainly a big-time pitching prospect, but Sutor also has been impressed with Arend’s bat.
“Over the next two years, I think he’ll open up some guys with his hitting,” Sutor said. “He’s getting stronger. He’s getting bigger. He’s driving the ball with authority.”
Arend continues to adapt to his body, growing a couple inches and adding about 20 pounds to his frame in the offseason. He started his season off with a homer last week against Huntley.
St. Charles East’s Joey Arend waits his turn for batting practice in St. Charles on Monday, March 25, 2024. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)
He said there’s more to come, too.
“I definitely feel a lot bigger and stronger,” Arend said. “I’m definitely not finished yet. I’m not where I’d like to be as of right now, but there is still time for that.”
Still, Arend finds himself at the forefront of the Saints, and he’s ready for it.
“We have a lot of shoes to fill,” Arend said. “Being able to step into that leadership role is a big part of what we’re trying to do here.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
