Latest news with #VanderMeyden
Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Highland's Caden Quigg kick-starts the sectional final. Then he achieves ‘something my dad was able to do.'
As is often the case, Caden Quigg got things going for Highland on Monday night. The senior center fielder said that was part of the plan against Bishop Noll in the Class 3A East Chicago Central Sectional championship game at Block Stadium. 'We knew from the jump, right away, we had to put it on them, and we weren't going to let go,' he said. Quigg led off the first inning with a single and scored the game's first run. Later in the inning, he walked with the bases loaded to force in another run. By the end of the first, Highland led 10-0. That was more than enough for the Trojans, who won their first sectional title since 2000 with a 13-0 victory in five innings. 'That first inning, we put it on them, and we did not let go at all,' Quigg said. 'We knew if we kept going, it was ours, and we did it right from the start.' It all started with Quigg. 'I was just ready to hit (Monday),' he said. 'I knew my job up there was just to do what I know how to do. Going up to the plate, I just had a clear, clean mind and just attacked the ball.' Quigg is batting .298 with 16 RBIs for Highland (17-13), which will play Andrean (27-3) in the regional championship game on Saturday. He also has 29 stolen bases, the single-season program record he set against East Chicago Central in the sectional semifinals. 'Q, I love him to death,' Highland coach Zak Pizer said. 'For him to set the goal of 29, to get that stolen base record and for him to achieve it and to put God first, it's just a testament to the man he is, the young man he is.' The record has been icing on the cake for Quigg. 'It's awesome,' he said. 'The No. 1 goal always was to win sectionals. But at the start of the year, I was looking through the record book, and I saw that I could get those steals. That was my goal. I made that my goal. I told myself I could get it, and I went after it.' Highland senior Caden VanderMeyden nearly pitched a no-hitter against the Warriors (16-10), who lost 6-5 in the regular-season matchup between the teams on May 22. VanderMeyden allowed only a double with two outs in the fifth to junior infielder Aston Orozco and matched that with a two-run double of his own. VanderMeyden struck out 11 and walked five. VanderMeyden and Quigg, a three-sport athlete who also competed in cross country and basketball for the Trojans, intend to play baseball and room together at Trinity Christian. 'He means a lot,' VanderMeyden said. 'I'm just happy to win it with him. To be with him and jumping on each other after we won it, it means a lot.' The sectional championship also means a lot to Quigg's family. His parents, Jason and Courtney, are longtime coaches in the Region. Jason Quigg, a 1992 Highland graduate, was part of the boys basketball team that reached the state semifinals in 1991 and is an assistant for the team. Courtney Quigg is an assistant for Highland's girls baseball team. 'It's amazing,' Caden Quigg said. 'I've been waiting. Ever since I was a freshman, all I wanted to do was just win a sectional. Now I'm able to do it and have something my dad was able to do.' Jason Quigg was emotional as the Trojans celebrated on the historic field. 'I wanted this for him so much,' he said. 'It's so cool. It's awesome.' Pizer collected himself before putting the sectional title in perspective. The second-year coach and former assistant graduated from Highland in 2018. 'A long time coming,' Pizer said. 'Twenty-five years — I'm 25 years old. I was probably three weeks the last time we won this. To be a 4-10 team and to win the last 10 of 13 games to keep it going with this team, it's just the resilience they have. 'It just goes to show it's our time.'
Chicago Tribune
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Highland pitcher Caden VanderMeyden shrugs off shoulder issues. He's on a mission. ‘I want to make history.'
In Highland's chase for history, senior pitcher Caden VanderMeyden is ready to shoulder the burden. The 6-foot-4 right-hander has managed to mostly move past the discomfort in his throwing shoulder that was especially bothersome earlier this season. He said he also 'tweaked' his left shoulder while batting. But VanderMeyden has remained focused on the Trojans' mission to win their first sectional title since 2000. 'We're just all excited to make history,' he said. 'That 25 years, it's been in my brain. 'I imagine going crazy when we win, jumping on each other. But we have to win the games first before we start thinking about that.' VanderMeyden and the Trojans began the Class 3A East Chicago Central Sectional with a 12-1 victory against West Side in five innings on Wednesday night. The Trinity Christian commit said he 'got a feel for the mound' at Block Stadium with a perfect inning for Highland (15-13), striking out two while throwing just eight pitches, to lower his ERA to 1.33. He has 23 strikeouts in 26 ⅓ innings this season. He plays first base when he's not pitching, and he's batting .178. 'Pitching-wise, I feel good,' VanderMeyden said. 'I have the confidence. Hitting-wise, it's been pretty hard. I still have the confidence, but it hasn't worked out in my favor. But pitching, I want the ball, and I want to make history.' The Trojans advanced to play East Chicago Central (12-13) in the sectional semifinals on Friday. If that game goes according to their plan, they'll play either Bishop Noll or Griffith in the championship game on Monday with a healthier VanderMeyden on the mound. 'A couple of weeks ago, my arm was hurting bad,' he said. 'But I got some rest. I iced it. I got through it. It's gotten better. It's not as bad as it was. I'm ready to go.' Zak Pizer, a 2018 Highland graduate and former assistant who in his second season as coach, is ready for VanderMeyden to take the ball. 'CJ's our most reliable guy,' Pizer said. 'He's the guy that we want on that mound. Hopefully he can get that job done that we haven't seen in 25 years. 'He hasn't had as many innings as we'd like him to have. We were like, 'OK, let's slow it down a little bit.' We wanted to conserve him for sectionals, make sure he was ready for sectionals.' Highland junior catcher Kirk Dapshis appreciates VanderMeyden's efforts. 'CJ, that's my boy right there,' Dapshis said. 'That's my ace. He's the guy. When he's on the mound, we know it's going to be a good day. He's been in the right mindset. He's battled. 'He's had days where his arm might not feel good, but he comes back the next week, and no matter who we're playing, no matter where it is, no matter when it is, he's there and competes. He competes every pitch. That's what matters to us, and that's what matters to him.' VanderMeyden was more of a first baseman earlier in his career. But he was a key member of Highland's staff that was headed by then-senior Kyle Stacy last season, posting a 1.81 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 27 innings. 'We knew he'd be the guy this year when he beat Andrean last year,' Pizer said of VanderMeyden. 'When he beat Andrean, he really kind of said he had something special. 'He has the height for it, he has the build for it, he has the heart for it when he wants it, and he has the stuff for it. When his stuff is on, he can compete with anyone in the state.' VanderMeyden is figuring that out for himself. 'I'm surprised I've been doing this well, actually,' he said. 'Being the ace, I was all scared. Last year going into this year, I was like, 'I'm going to be one of the only guys.' But it's been going well. I've gotten a good feel, and I've improved since last year.' After playing basketball during his sophomore and junior years, VanderMeyden decided to concentrate more on baseball. He also joined the tennis team as a junior, having never competed in the sport before, and played No. 1 doubles last season. 'I didn't play basketball this year, so I got to more baseball workouts this winter,' VanderMeyden said. 'It pays off here in games.' The Trojans hope the ultimate payoff occurs next week. 'We're optimistic,' Pizer said. 'We'd like to think that we're the favorite just because we don't want to say we're going to go in there and lose. 'We're very hungry. We want this bad, and our kids are showing it. They want it. Not like every other year they didn't want it — every year they've wanted it — but this year, you can see it in their eyes. They want to be at that regional and even farther if we can.' VanderMeyden definitely wants it. 'I'm just excited for sectionals,' he said. 'I'm excited to be winning some sectional games. I'm excited to be the favorite to win a sectional championship. 'We've always had Hanover and Andrean and LC (Lake Central) in our sectional, and come sectionals, you're like, 'Oh, crap,' because you have those ranked teams and you have one of the hardest schedules. We're in a good spot.'
