Naperville Central Earns Third Place in State Baseball Tournament

Naperville Central’s baseball team made an impression in their final game despite challenging conditions. Senior Jackson Persin was especially noticeable with his stained pants. Even at a dirt-free field in Slammers Stadium, Joliet, the stains remained, symbolizing the team’s tough season.

Their season concluded with an 11-2 defeat against Mount Carmel in the Class 4A third-place game. Despite the losses, the Redhawks secured the third state trophy in the program’s history alongside those from 2006 and 2010.

Persin commented on the achievement, saying, “It was a long year, and we worked hard, and it’s nice coming home with something that we can remember.” The Redhawks created lasting memories, with Persin participating in 32 games. He began the season as a catcher and also played as a designated hitter and third baseman, starting in this role against Mount Carmel.

Facing a skilled pitcher like Miami-bound Ian Tosi, Persin went 1-for-2 and contributed both of the team’s runs. Naperville Central coach Mike Stock noted Persin’s competitive spirit: “He competes against the best pitchers, so that’s why we put him at the top of the order.” Persin hit second behind Jermaine Kenady, who scored the opening run after reaching base and stealing second.

Persin recounted his strategic hit: “They gave me room to put a ground ball over there, and I thought, ‘He’s throwing hard, might as well take it the other way.’ When you’ve got Jermaine on base, he can score from anywhere.” This was the final hit dealt by Tosi, who recorded seven strikeouts over four innings. Later, Michael Page’s triple provided another opportunity, which Persin fulfilled with a sacrifice fly.

Reflecting on his season performance, Persin stated, “It was a good time. It was going out there one more time with your boys and just playing to win.” Persin concluded the season with .263 batting average and 11 RBIs from 57 at-bats.

Throughout the game, Naperville Central employed a variety of players, including six pitchers. Coach Stock praised the team’s competitiveness and effort despite some errors: “We’ve got 25 guys here, and everybody can play ball.” Kenady echoed these sentiments about his teammate, stating Persin’s readiness and confidence inspired them, even when not playing regularly.

The Redhawks, led by 17 seniors, surpassed initial expectations. They achieved a 15-game winning streak before a semifinals loss to Maine South. Persin attributed their success to strong camaraderie and energy.

“We understood what it took to be here, and we wanted to be here,” Kenady noted. “We did everything we could, so just being out there with the guys for one last time, it made me very happy.”

Looking ahead, Kenady, a junior starter, promised a return to the state finals, stating, “We still want to do more.”