After hitting .433 last season and leading Joliet Catholic to its second straight Class 2A state title, senior first baseman Jake Troyner is brimming with confidence each time he steps to the plate.
With the game on the line, the Illinois-Chicago recruit wants to be the one with the bat in his hand.
“I feel like you should have the most confidence in every at-bat,” Troyner said. “I think you should want to be in those moments. I think everyone should be able to experience that.”
Troyner was certainly ready to come through in the clutch Wednesday.
His walk-off RBI double with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted the host Hilltoppers to a 6-5 win over Lockport in a Don Ladas Memorial Tournament first-round game.
Zach Pomatto had two RBIs while John O’Brien reached base three times and scored two runs for Joliet Catholic (6-0), which rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the win.
Adam Kozak had an RBI double and Cal Korosa added an RBI single for Lockport (4-2-1). Trace Schaaf turned in a strong start, allowing just one earned run over 4 1/3 innings.
The Porters scored two runs in the top of the seventh to break a 3-3 tie but the Hilltoppers were not rattled.
“Our chemistry is through the roof right now and we’re bonding through practice and in games, supporting each other all the way through,” Pomatto said. “Even when we were down, we were picking each other up.”
Joliet Catholic’s Zach Pomatto (34) follows through on his swing against Lockport during a Don Ladas Memorial Tournament first-round game in Joliet on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)
Lucas Simulick singled and scored on Pomatto’s fielder’s choice grounder. O’Brien walked and scored the tying run on a wild pitch.
That set up Troyner’s heroics as he ripped a 1-2 pitch to right-center for the game-winner.
“It’s great having someone like that to rely on,” Pomatto said of Troyner. “He’s a great teammate, a great infielder. He picks us up a lot.”
With his college decision out of the way, Troyner is playing his senior season with some weight off his shoulders.
Joliet Catholic’s Jake Troyner (22) takes off after connecting for a hit against Lockport during a Don Ladas Memorial Tournament first-round game in Joliet on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)
“I feel like the pressure’s off a little bit this year without having to worry about who’s coming out to games to watch me and things like that,” he said. “Ever since the first time you play as a kid, you want to play in the highest level in college.
“You don’t want to run out of baseball, and I’m glad I get another four years. I’m excited for it, but I’m not trying to jump the gun and look past my last year here at JCA.”
Troyner, who also plays basketball for the Hilltoppers, is not content to rest on his laurels after a strong junior season.
“I think I’ve gotten better over the years and I think I’ll continue to get better, grow in the weight room and keep moving forward,” he said.
Joliet Catholic first baseman Jake Troyner (22) fields the ball against Lockport during a Don Ladas Memorial Tournament first-round game in Joliet on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)
Joliet Catholic coach Jared Voss knows Troyner is capable of big things, but he doesn’t want him to press while trying too hard to top what he did last season.
“Jake had just an amazing junior year,” Voss said. “You don’t see too many junior years like that out of everybody. Going into senior year, how much better can you get than that?
“At the end of the day, it’s baseball and there’s probably going to be more failure, so you have to temper expectations and can’t put too much pressure on yourself.”
With two state championship rings already in his possession, Troyner has had quite the career at Joliet Catholic. But he still wants more as the Hilltoppers move back this season to Class 3A.
“It’s been very good, but it’s not finished yet,” Troyner said. “We’ve got a big year ahead of us. The three-peat’s in sight, and that’s our main goal.”
