Naperville North senior outfielder Scott Walker can chuckle at the memory, but it wasn’t funny at the time.
Walker was visiting a close friend in Utah on a winter vacation when he fell on a ski slope, putting his baseball season in jeopardy.
“Right before the season started, I was snowboarding, and it did not go well,” Walker said, letting out a laugh. “I was watching my friend ski, saw him fall over, and I started laughing. When I turned around, I face-planted.
“It was my first day there. I broke my collarbone. It hurt really bad. I had to wait a week before I could have surgery. I couldn’t sleep that whole week.”
But just like he did last spring, when he dislocated his shoulder, Walker stayed positive.
“I wasn’t too worried because I’m confident in myself no one was taking my starting spot,” he said. “I just worked to get my strength back. I was a little nervous because I didn’t know how long it would keep me out. But after a month and a half, I was completely back to normal.”
Naperville North coach Jim Chiappetta said Walker is poised for a good season after becoming a pivotal player for the Huskies late in his career. Walker took advantage of his promotion to the starting lineup last season, finishing with a .352 average, seven RBIs, 11 runs scored and five steals in 21 games.
“Scott had a very solid year last season for us in a handful of games,” Chiappetta said. “He’s going to be a strong player for us and one of the kids we are going to count on as a leader and a producer.
“He has the ability to get to the next play, which helps his game. I think he has the trajectory of becoming a DuPage Valley all-conference player if he puts it together. I think that’s his goal. He was close last year with the stats he put up.”
Walker is a producer on the field, but he also brings an intangible element to the Huskies (2-2), who have several first-year varsity players.
“He’s a talented and skilled kid, but also a funny kid,” Chiappetta said. “In baseball, you have to have the right mentality about you. I think he’s got that. He’s very lighthearted and has the ability to let things go. You need that in baseball.”
Naperville North junior catcher Zach Bava, an Illinois State recruit, agrees Walker has a fun personality.
“Every day at practice, he comes in, and no matter what kind of day you are having, Scotty makes me laugh and makes the game more fun,” Bava said. “Even on our bus rides home after games, you can expect him to make some jokes and make the entire bus laugh.”
Bava said Walker also makes plays, whether he’s in right field, at the plate or on the bases.
“Scotty is ready to have a serious senior year and help us accomplish the goals we set in the beginning of the year,” Bava said.
Chiappetta said Walker showed early in his career that he could handle the treacherous right field at Naperville North.
“Right field at Naperville North is tough to play, especially when the sun is up or (going) down, and the wind usually blows,” Chiappetta said. “Scott does a fantastic job defensively. He did a great job last year.”
Walker, who moved to Naperville from the St. Louis area in seventh grade, said he learned how to navigate right field by relying on his instincts.
“Right field is a bit tough,” he said. “There’s the sun, and the grass is not too nice because it has a lot of bumps.”
But Walker is no stranger to bumpy roads.
“My injury helped clear my mind,” he said. “I could focus on other things in life. It also gave me a break from baseball. I worked out a lot, was hitting in the cages and feel great.”
Walker said he thinks the Huskies can have a great season.
“I’m confident in the team this year that we will go far in the playoffs and challenge for the DVC (title),” he said.
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
