For a brief time frame, Windfall’s Cooper Eggert mentioned he felt sorry for himself.
The senior pitcher was informed by three medical doctors — together with an orthopedic surgeon for the Cincinnati Reds – that he wanted Tommy John surgical procedure after injuring his elbow April 24 towards Marist.
“After I discovered from the third physician that I’m going to want surgical procedure, I went by means of some extent in my head the place I used to be battling it,” Eggert mentioned. “I felt dangerous by means of it.”
Eggert snapped out of his sullen temper when Scott Mensik, his former coach with the Mokena Blaze, gave him some inspirational phrases to reside by.
“He mentioned, ‘You may’t look previously and you’ll’t do something about it — simply go on the market, win one other ring.’” Eggert mentioned.
That gained’t occur with Eggert on the mound. However after a stint because the group’s designated hitter, he’s now manning first base and serving to the Celtics defensively and on the plate.
His efficiency Saturday featured a bases-loaded triple within the second inning that sparked Windfall to a 12-0 rout of Lincoln-Means East within the Class 4A Lincoln-Means West Sectional championship sport in New Lenox.
Eggert drove in 4 runs for Windfall (27-12), which is able to play at 7:30 p.m. Monday towards Catholic League rival Brother Rice (36-3) within the Crestwood Supersectional at Ozinga Area.
“That hit by Cooper — that was big,” Windfall coach Mark Smith mentioned of Eggert, who has dedicated to SIU Edwardsville. “It gave us a little bit little bit of a cushion.”
Cincinnati commit Enzo Infelise, Declan Kane, Dominik Alberico and Blake Jenner every had two hits. Minnesota recruit Nate O’Donnell and Alberico mixed for the shutout, hanging out eight.
Jake Newman led Lincoln-Means East (28-11) with two hits. Senior left-hander Jack Bauer, an MLB prospect who just lately decommitted from Virginia, gave up six runs in an inning-plus of motion.
Bauer, who made nationwide headlines for throwing 102 mph earlier within the spring, has been on a strict pitch depend this season. He threw 35 pitches within the first inning and completed with 53.
“We spent an hour taking hacks off the machine at 100 mph,” Eggert mentioned of Friday night time’s observe session. “It was arduous. However the plan was to make him throw strikes. We heard about his pitch depend, and if we obtained it up within the first inning, he can be taken out quickly.”
“Bauer is particular — actually particular,” Smith mentioned. “However our youngsters had nice, aggressive at-bats.”
It allowed Windfall to earn the thirteenth sectional title in program historical past.
Eggert, in the meantime, has surgical procedure scheduled with Timothy Kremchek, a longtime physician for the Reds, after the playoffs on June 17. He’s additionally ready for a redshirt season in school.
Nonetheless, Eggert mentioned he’s been having fun with his time at first base. And Smith likes having him within the lineup.
“He’s had form of a tough senior yr,” Smith mentioned of Eggert. “He began out with a hamstring harm and missed the primary couple of video games. However this harm actually hit this group arduous.
“It is a very close-knit group. There are 20 seniors on this group out of 24. When one goes down, all of them felt it, and it took us some time to recover from that. When he got here again, it simply juiced us up a bit.”
Depend O’Donnell as one of many Celtics who’s joyful to have Eggert round. After which some.
“He’s had a whole lot of ups and downs, and an harm like that will get in your head and might harm your mindset,” O’Donnell mentioned of Eggert. “For him to come back again and play first base for us is large.”
Jeff Vorva is a contract reporter for the Day by day Southtown.
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