By Miles Toogo- Photos by Lauren Gray
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p728681810 **
Do you recall the first time you did something you hadn’t done before? That feeling of finally accomplishing a feat you’ve wanted for some time, but it has eluded you.
It’s a feeling of total gratification. It covers you like a warm cozy blanket on a cool day.
That feeling lingers because you want it to last as long as possible and you might remember every moment of that feat for a long time.
Now picture Johnny Burke, the second year Wolves player who came up to bat in the third inning against the ESP Black pitcher. In his previous at-bat, Burke sliced a single. It’s what he does best. He goes up and looks to make contact and put the ball in play.
On the second pitch, without hesitation, Burke made contact and accomplished something he hadn’t done previously as an Illinois Wolves.
Like a bolt of lightning from his bat, Burke sent that the next pitch into a domain he had not reached before, a Home Run domain to the cheers of every Wolves fan and teammate there. His 2-run home run cleared the left field fence while Burke reveled silently to himself in what he had just done as he circled the bases.
His first home run as a Wolves player was gratifying to all but no one stood prouder than his dad, John. He talked into his phone making note of what his son had just done moments ago.
“I think I took the first pitch and then I was thinking to myself, this kid, I’m gonna stay back and try and tee off on him, said the newest member of the Wolves home run club. “I like the high pitches up in the zone and I just turned on it , which Ive been focused on turning on the ball and generate some power.”
“It felt super good when I saw it go out and the guy’s cheering was awesome. I like the guys on this team better than last year, we’re more into the game where some last year weren’t as passionate about the game like everybody here is.”
Burke wasn’t the only one doing something for the first time. Both Griff Sinkovich and Fred Sackley also accomplished firsts of the season for themselves.
Both did theirs on the mound.
Sinkovich was the game starter on the mound. It was his first time pitching this season and it showed. ESP black sent 7 batters to the plate as Sinkovich gave up three runs on three hits.
“In the first inning I was kinda nervous being my first start of the season,” said Griff. “I was trying to go out there and do my best but I kinda got in my head a little bit, but after I got out of it, I had the mind set to go there and throw strikes and not matter of what happens. I felt more relaxed and confident as the innings went on and felt I was throwing it pretty well in my last two innings.”
Griff did settle in over his next three innings allowing no runs and no hits while also covering home for an out on a steal attempt on a ball that got away.
Sinkovich also changed his batting approach and since then, it has worked well for him after struggling to start the year.
“I stopped dropping my hands, I locked back in and focusing in on taking more pitches but also staying aggressive and going straight contact with the ball.”
Sinkovich was on base three of four at-bats with a pair of hits and a base on balls.
After playing second base all season, Fred Sackley was asked to close out the game on the mound after Brady Madden was stellar the previous inning facing just three batters.
Sackley hadn’t been on the mound all season due to cautiousness while his recovery concluded. This too was a first of the season for him.
His one inning of relief saw him face 5 batters giving up one hit and one run while striking out two batters.
“It felt good, I actually had elbow surgery earlier this past winter, so it was my first time on the mound in a while.” said Sackley. “It felt pretty good, I couldn’t get my fast ball over the plate, but the curve was working, so I kept hitting that. I’m feeling good, back fully recovered and feeling whippy.”
Sackey also talked off his offense.
“Being at the top of the order has helped me, it’s given me more confidence to start the team off at the beginning of the game and get us going by scoring some runs.”
Sackley reach base all four times he batted including a home run to lead off the Wolves offense. He had three hits and was hit by a pitch and drove in a pair of runs.
The only advantage ESP Black had all game was the first inning, after that, the Illinois Wolves were more than they could handle.
The Wolves went on to score an additional 16 runs from Inning two to inning five and after ESP batted in the sixth inning, the game was called due to the Run Rule advantage, 17-4.
Sackley, Matthew Wiskowski, Christian Slazak, Madden and Burke all homered in the game.
Multiple hits came from several players which included Sackley (3, 2 RBI), Payton Swartzendruber (2, 3 RBI), Wiskowski (3, 3 RBI), Madden (2, 3 RBI), Sinkovich (2), Julien Duque (3) and Burke (2, 3 RBI).
Sackley, Sinkovich and Duque each reached base all four times up with several players scoring twice in the game.
The Wolves demonstrated even falling behind by multiple runs, they are talented enough to overcome difficult starts especially at home.
“We have depth at pitching, but we also can hit the ball well and for power. We are going after everyone we play, and I believe we have the talent that teams will remember who they just played and the results,” said Coach Brandin Muniz.
