Latest news with #Paskewic
Chicago Tribune
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
AU recruit Austin Paskewic pitches Streamwood past Larkin. But his bat comes alive too. ‘Done that for four years.'
Austin Paskewic has been an impactful player for four seasons, blossoming into Streamwood's leader as his career has unfolded. Sometimes, in a tight game, teams need their star to be the star. Sabres coach Dan Jennings never worries in those situations, however. 'He's done that for four years,' Jennings said of Paskewic. 'He's a really good player. He's going to Aurora (University) for a reason, and he's going to be really good for them.' Paskewic had his hands on the pulse of everything Tuesday afternoon for Streamwood in a comeback 5-3 Upstate Eight Conference win in eight innings at Larkin in Elgin. He went 7 2/3 innings before reaching his pitch count and also had two hits to keep the Sabres (11-11, 7-5) in the game. He drove in a run to cut the lead to one and later scored the tying run. Given a second chance, Streamwood rallied and earned the win for Paskewic, who struck out 12 while allowing three runs — only one earned — on six hits and a pair of walks. Conner Flynn, Casey Nosek, Paskewic and Josh Zamora all had RBIs for Streamwood. Paskewic was recruited by AU to play third base and catch, but it was his pitching Tuesday that sparked the Sabres. After a sluggish start, he settled in, notching 10 strikeouts in a five-inning stretch. 'I was missing with the off-speed and had to rely on the fastball,' Paskewic said. 'They were just catching the fastball early. Once I started getting the breaking ball in the zone, it didn't feel like they had a chance.' Antonio Ventura also pitched well for Larkin (2-20, 1-9). He struck out seven in 5 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits and three walks. He added two hits, including a double. Paskewic seemed to get stronger as the day went on, something that Larkin coach Niko Morado noticed as well. 'He pounded the zone, especially late in the game,' Morado said. 'When pitchers usually start getting tired and start throwing more balls, he stayed locked in, so credit to him.' While his pitching kept Streamwood alive, Paskewic got the game to extra innings with his bat. Jennings pointed out that Paskewic has been scuffling at the plate lately, so his RBI double to score Adan Rojas, cutting the lead to one, was a welcomed sight. 'It did feel nice,' Paskewic said. 'I think I kind of got in my head a little bit. I feel like I was getting under the ball a little too much and maybe I was trying to do too much. 'I feel like I settled in. I was more behind the baseball, staying through it. It felt way different.' In college, Jennings knows that Paskewic's bat will dictate his playing time. After watching Paskewic perform for four varsity seasons, Jennings also knows it's in there. He hopes Tuesday's hit unlocks something for the rest of the season. 'He's hit a bit of a skid this year in terms of swinging it, but he saw it well today,' Jennings said. 'I think that confidence is going to run into West Chicago tomorrow.' Paskewic has followed Nick Weaver behind the plate for the Sabres. Weaver, an Elgin Community College standout, was named the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference's player of the year on Tuesday. He's committed to Eastern Michigan. Paskewic credited Weaver's influence in helping guide him on his path to college baseball. 'Not only my defensive capabilities back there but being a field general,' Paskewic said. 'That's progressed a lot. I can be a force to help the defense play better, get outs when we need them.'
Chicago Tribune
08-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
It's about time for Bartlett's Vince Yario, who throws strikes on tough hitting day. ‘You walk people, you lose.'
Bartlett's Vince Yario flashes premium stuff on the mound, but so far this season, the results haven't always followed for the junior right-hander. First-coach Alex Coan hasn't been discouraged, however. 'He's competed really well on the mound,' Coan said of Yario. 'We've run into some really tough lineups. Not making any excuses, but we face really quality opponents.' Viola, Yario put it all together in Monday's Upstate Eight Conference opener against Streamwood. Yario was dominant for the host Hawks in a 5-0 victory and stymied the Sabres over five innings on a frigid day, striking out five while scattering three hits and a walk. He also singled. Josh Colaizzi led Bartlett (3-7-1, 1-0) with an RBI single and a pair of walks and threw a perfect seventh to close out the game. Joe Kennedy and Gio Scivittaro each added RBI singles. Casey Nosek, Austin Paskewic and Adan Rojas had the hits for Streamwood (3-4, 0-1). Yario said there wasn't a specific focus during bullpen sessions that turned his season around. 'I just had a lot more confidence out there,' Yario said. 'We've faced a lot of tough competition this year. That's good for us because we need it.' Coming into Monday's start, Yario had struck out 23 in 11 innings while allowing 13 earned runs and 11 walks. He only walked one against Streamwood. 'I've been getting into a lot of three-ball counts and that was my goal — to lower that this year and this outing,' Yario said. 'That's all I wanted to focus on, just throwing it over the plate. 'I have a lot of confidence in my team, too.' Yario pumped strikes on a tough hitting day, which stood out to Streamwood coach Dan Jennings. 'He threw a lot of strikes,' Jennings said of Yario. 'He threw to everyone in the order, even to guys like Paskewic and Riley Nosek and the middle of the lineup and challenged them to swing the bat. 'On a day like (Monday), if you walk people, you lose.' Streamwood countered with Paskewic, its ace. Bartlett ran up his pitch count and chased him after four innings. He allowed four runs, three earned, on four hits. He struck out seven and walked four. 'They do a really good job with two strikes,' Jennings said of Bartlett. 'They battle. I thought (Paskewic) threw well enough to win. He's thrown really well every outing. 'It's just a matter of hitting and making plays in the field. We'll get there. We're young.' The stuff for Yario has always been undeniable. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and he can throw three or four pitches for strikes, including a slider and an improving change-up. 'He's got really good horizontal break on his fastball,' Coan said. 'He throws a heavy two-seamer. On a warmer day, there would be a little bit better velocity. You're looking at a really special arm. 'He can be a really good piece. I'm really proud of the guy he's grown into. He's just a dog, a competitor.' Yario set out to harness that talent and turn it into results. It started with a switch to a new travel program, Canes Illinois, and has continued in Coan's first season leading the program. 'I really fixed my mechanics,' Yario said. 'That really helped me out a lot. That's all I'm focusing on this year, just my mechanics. Hopefully that brings me to the college level.' Outings like he had Monday will go a long way toward making that hope a reality. 'That's the Vince Yario we know we have on the team,' Coan said. 'We're really proud of him for going out there and doing his thing. We just told him to stay the course.' Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News. Originally Published: April 7, 2025 at 10:30 PM CDT
