Baseball squad has bounce back wins, seniors lauded

HUNTLEY — Griffin Goldstein took the route many players who sought to hit home runs.

“It felt good. It was a curveball and I couldn’t resist,” Goldstein said.

Goldstein’s home run came in the third inning shot to left field that gave Huntley a 6-4 lead on Brother Rice, which held up for the final score. The other key hit was a three-run homer by AJ Putty.

“It was his first home run of the season, he was pumped,” Huntley coach Andy Jakubowski said of Goldstein.

Goldstein, a senior, has played every inning at shortstop this season, alongside junior second baseman TJ Jakubowski. He recalled one unusual double play they turned against Crystal Lake South.

Coach Jakubowski praised clutch hitting, such as Putty’s three-run homer, preceded by a TJ Jakubowski walk and a Ryan Dabe single. The Goldstein home run made the winning pitcher Dylan Visurda, one of five pitchers used.

The win over Brother Rice helped take the sting from two losses to Burlington Central, 10-3 and 4-1 to conclude league play. HHS plays Rockford Jefferson at the Class 4A DeKalb Regional May 22.

“It’s what we do – we never give up,” Goldstein said. “I think we’ll be playing our best ball at regionals and we have a week to prepare.”

The Red Raiders baseball program’s 15 seniors were saluted May 9 prior to an exciting 3-2 win over Streamwood. More than 10 are expected to go on to college and play baseball. They have led the Red Raiders to a 25-5, 14-4 FVC championship season.

“This year’s class brings the total number of players to 140 over 18 years,” coach Andy Jakubowski said. “The coaching staff would like to thank these senior players for their dedication, passion and hard work over the past four years at Huntley high School. Seniors, thank you for sacrificing your time and effort in our program. Your commitment has been greatly appreciated and you have left a legacy for other players to follow many years to come.”

Players and their selections for college baseball: captain Colby Aschenbauch, Loras College; Quinn Drews, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Eddie Johnson, Lake Sumter State College; Jack Lansu, Oakton College; Kyle Larson, College of Lake County; captain Malachi Paplanus, Wright State University; Ryan Sands, Columbia College of Missouri; Alex Simios, University of Wisconsin-Platteville; Louis Siriano, McHenry County College; Marko Stawski, Dominican University; Jason Wolter, University of Ottawa (Kansas). Haden Janke will play football at the College of DuPage while Davis Tomlinson will attend Virginia Tech University and Goldstein is undecided.