Seniors take a bow; HHS 9 battles for FVC title
HUNTLEY — Back in 2010, when the Red Raiders of head coach Andy Jakubowski qualified for the state baseball tournament for the first time, nearly 20 baseball players may have just have started the sport.
Flash forward 13 years later, on a sun-splashed Thursday at Huntley High School. Starting with captains Ryan and Brayden Bakes, sons of Melissa and Chris and concluding with Aiden Zimmerman, son of Laura and Brian, the 17 Class of 2023 members enjoyed senior day traditions. A total of 14 players will be playing baseball next year at Midwest colleges, while Ryan Bakes will attend South Carolina University. The group has been part of their coach’s 400th win at Huntley and 500th overall.
Traditions included presentation of plaques to each of the 17 seniors and they took the catcher’s position as moms threw out a ceremonial first pitch.
“The 17 seniors is the largest class that we have ever had,” Jakubowski said. “They have grown into well respected student-athletes and they will leave a legacy. It was a great day for the seniors to enjoy a day together and compete as a collective whole.”
Brayden Bakes summed up what the day means to the Class of 2023.
“I think this being one of the bigger senior classes is a good thing because we’ve all had plenty of experience on the varsity level,” Brayden Bakes said. “This means a lot to coach Jakubowski because he sees the potential this team has to do great things. After this year we will be losing almost half the team which can also be overwhelming but I think this program is in great hands with the amount knowledge our coaches have. We didn’t really do any activities before senior night but it was a special day. You never realize how big senior night is until you are at that stage which makes it more memorable.”
Familiar standouts and reserves alike were honored before the Red Raiders’ game against Wauconda.
The Red Raiders downed Wauconda 10-3 as starting pitcher senior Sam Deligio got the nod. HHS stood at 12-3 in the Fox Valley Conference, tied with Cary-Grove for the lead.
Sam Deligio said he was “extremely excited” when Jakubowski told him he would get the start. It was his first varsity pitching outing this year due to an elbow injury sustained in football season. Deligio helped to lead the Red Raiders to be an FVC co football champion, next will play football at North Central College.
“I am so thankful to be playing baseball with all of my best friends again,” Deligio said. “I have been playing baseball with most of these guys since I was 10, so senior night meant a lot to me to bet back on the field.
Jakubowski commented on the FVC race.
“It should come down to the last game – C-G, Crystal Lake South and HHS have two tough series left. Probably four losses will win conference,” Jakubowski said.
In other contests, the Red Raiders blasted Dundee-Crown, 22-5,for a 12-3 FVC lead on May 5. The next day they improved to 21-4 as they beat Boylan Catholic, 6-2. Boylan was where Jakubowski began his baseball coaching career.
