Illiana Christian's Spencer Bandstra may carry on the ‘quiet Bandstra way.' But his play speaks volumes.
Illiana Christian baseball player Spencer Bandstra might not be flashy.
The junior pitcher/outfielder might not be physically imposing, and he might not be boisterous.
But Illiana Christian coach Dale Meyer certainly understands Bandstra's understated importance.
'He's 'Steady Eddie,'' Meyer said. 'He goes about his business like a professional. He's quiet, consistent. He's had an older brother to look up to to set the mold and great parents that have set the mold for him. He continues to carry on the Bandstra way — a quiet Bandstra way.
'But you know he's there. Even though he may be quiet, you know he's there.'
Meyer, an Illiana Christian graduate who had been an assistant until Jeff VanderWoude stepped down after last season, appreciates all the things Bandstra does.
'Part of our mantra is grit — focus, purpose, grit,' Meyer said. 'I heard it from another coach the other day. Grit is doing monotonous things over and over and over again, and Spencer is all about that. He'll do monotonous things over and over and over again because he knows he has to do them to be better and get better.'
Bandstra, who went 1-for-3 with an RBI during the Vikings' 2-1 season-opening victory at Boone Groove on Thursday, has been good since his freshman season. He started in center field when then-senior star Kevin Corcoran pitched, including in the Vikings' second straight Class 2A state championship win in 2023, although a designated hitter took his spot in the lineup.
'I didn't know what to expect when I first got here,' Bandstra said. 'But it was great to be able to make varsity my first year. It was a lot of fun. I was honored to be able to do that. Just happy I was able to play a role in that state championship.'
Bandstra did bat last season, when he played left field in the Vikings' third straight appearance in the state championship game. He hit .323 with a homer, 11 RBIs, 27 runs scored and 11 stolen bases.
Bandstra was also one of the Vikings' top pitchers last season. He went 5-0, tied for the team lead in victories, with a 0.82 ERA, 34 strikeouts and 16 walks in 34 innings. He posted a 2.13 ERA in 26 ⅓ innings as a freshman.
'He's a consistent lefty,' Meyer said. 'He's a strike-thrower. He knows how to get people out. He knows he's not going to overpower people with his velocity, but he's a pitcher. He's not a thrower, he's a pitcher.
'He knows how to manipulate the strike zone, to get hitters to go after things they don't generally want to go after. I love to have him on the mound all the time.'
The defending Greater South Shore Conference champion Vikings, who moved up to Class 3A this season, should have a formidable pitching staff. Bandstra is joined by junior Tanner Post and senior Jake Scott, with Ohio State recruit Gavin Meyer limited to hitting as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery.
Post recalled competing against Bandstra in basketball during middle school — Post's Crown Point Christian team versus Bandstra's Highland Christian team — before joining forces.
'We've become friends since freshman year,' Post said. 'We've both grown a lot. We were both freshmen on varsity, both started, both got playing time. He's who I've been together with this whole time at Illiana. That's who I've been close with. He's my throwing partner. That's really where it all begins for me.'
'He's a nice lefty. He has a really nice change-up. He's always had that. It just drops off the table.'
Post also noted Bandstra's work ethic.
'He brings it every day,' Post said. 'He puts in the work outside of practice and hits the gym. He does it all.'
Bandstra, who also played basketball as a freshman, has gained almost 15 pounds since last spring as he attempts to make additional strides as an upperclassman.
'I've gotten bigger, stronger,' he said. 'I just want to do a lot of the same stuff as the last two years, keep building off last year and hopefully get some good results whenever I'm in the field and on the mound.
'Maybe I can step up more as a leader. Just keep helping the team out however I need to, help us win each game.'
Bandstra's brother Fletcher, a 2021 Illiana Christian graduate, has continued his baseball career at Calvin. Their sister Addi golfed at Illiana Christian before graduating in 2023.
Spencer Bandstra has been making his own name for the Vikings.
'I didn't have much of a chance to watch him play hoops that much, but I'm sure he was just as much of a crafty lefty on the court as he is on the mound,' Dale Meyer said. 'But he also realized when he's 5-foot-whatever, he's probably not going to get very far playing basketball. We're glad to have him on the baseball side 100% of the time. That's good for us.
'As far as the character piece goes, you can't ask for more as a coach, doing what he does.'
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