And for our next trick! This is a standard line for a performing magician and it applies well to the cast of Broncos who take the stage this spring. After a 29 win season and finishing third in the Class A State Tournament in 2007 Walther fans, who were recognized by the IHSA for outstanding sportsmanship at the finals, are wondering what comes next for the Baseball program.
There is reason for optimism with the return of 2 top quality pitchers. Steve Easter is one of the class hurlers in the Chicagoland area. His 7-2 record last year could be a prelude to the senior who is receiving attention from division I programs. Mike Babchack finished the season with a win in the 3 rd place game and an ERA under 1 for the season.
After these two fans will have to hope that the guys in green can pull something out of the hat. Chris Rankins who will see time on the mound and could show up in the outfield is the only other senior on the team. Junior Steve Tuchel slated for 2 nd base is the only other starter from last year to return.
Juniors, Brian Mullen a left handed hitting catcher and Logan Miller who will take his turn on the hill and play some middle infield saw time on the varsity roster last year.
The outfield presents itself as the biggest mystery. A number of layers from the Frosh Soph will be considered as the next ball hawks in what was a very strong cast last year. Victor Reeves and Ryan Baker were mainstays for the younger team. Mike Kimminau has a good sense for seeing the ball off the bat and Larry Barajaz is a smart baseball player who can adjust to many spots on the field.
Other first year varsity players to watch are juniors Luke Wilkening, and David Tuomi both of whom had an impact when the Broncos played in Joliet during their tournament run. Three “new” faces will also be seen on the line up card. Sophomore Scott Swiderek, a standout at Luther North last season, Junior Jeremy James who has not worn a baseball uniform for two years and Mike Bunetta who comes to us from St. Laurence will each be given a chance to earn the appreciation of Bronco fans.
The normally offensively minded Walther nine will rely much more on pitching this year and only time will tell if the team's dedication and insight can make the coach's apprehensions about a new season disappear.
One thing is for certain. The turnout for the baseball program has been bigger than most years and the future lies in the ability of those who were part of the great season last year to pass the influences of the ‘Walther Way “on to a new cast of characters. The addition of a freshmen schedule will be a great help and the return of Kyle Slechta '05 and Tug Gillingham '01 as coaches is sure to elevate the teaching resources that are so important in this game.
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Westminster
And so the conference begins. The Broncos lost a heart breaker 4-3 to open the PSL season. The theme for the year seems to be, “the little things'. The Broncos dropped the ball, kicked the ball, and threw the ball to the wrong places and that was only the defensive woes. On offense the green guys had four runners put out on the bases.
The agony of it all is that the game was another one run affair and lost in the 7 th inning. A great pitching performance by Steve Easter was misspent. The Warriors only scored one earned run. A lead off 7 th inning homer by the 9 th hitter was the steak through the heart.
The Broncos jumped out to a two zero lead in the first inning on an Easter home run. The “O” added another run to be sitting at 3-0 when the wheels came off in the top of the 5 th . On the day Walther had 8 hits half of them coming from Outfielders Mike Kimminau and Jeremy James who had two apiece.
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Aurora Christian (Game 1)
The Broncos took the show on the road and headed out past the outlet mall to battle the Eagles of Aurora Christian. The visitors took home a 12-1, five inning victory but not all the news was good. We will never know how many runs the Broncos could have scored had they not been picked off first base 4 times.
The outcome of the game was certainly affected by the crazy wind that was blowing balls all over the park. The Bronco outfielders get a huge share other the win that goes in Steve Easter's record. Jeremy James and Chris Rankins were able to get under every airborne orb sent their way. The eagle outfielders were not so fortunate. The Broncos did earn the victory pounding out 10 hits in the shorten game and playing errorless ball.
Easter helped his own cause with a mammoth shot to straight away center as a compliment to his two doubles. Steve Tuchel chipped in 3 hits and Brian Mullen watched four balls four times in a row.
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Aurora Christian (Game 2)
What a difference a day makes the Broncos had not trouble with Aurous Christian ion Tuesday but Wednesday was quite another case. Playing at home the Broncos survived to raise their confence record to 2 and 1 with a 10 – 9 win. The Eagles showed great resilience after going without a run in the first two innings they erupted with 4 in the third and 4 more in the 4 th to shovel the Broncos to the wall. Suddenly the green guys who had jumped to a 6-0 lead found themselves behind. Logan Miller took over the mound duties from starter Scott Swiderek and gave up a single run and the Broncos who had tied the score in the fourth added two more in the 5 th and regained the lead 10 -9. Mike Babchack entered the game and closed the door pitching the final two innings and preserving the win.
Offensively the Broncos scored early and often, 4 in the first, 2 in the second, fourth and fifth. Steve Tuchel had three hits with two doubles; Babchack also picked up3 hits on the day. All totaled the team had 13 safeties and four of those went for extra bases.
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Argo
If you are looking to get “your money's worth” when you come out to a baseball game visit the Broncos. The team played another 7 inning affair and won the game 9-8 in their last at bat. Jeremy James doubled to right with one out advanced to third on a fly out and scored when Steve Easter hit a shot that the Argonauts second basemen could not handle.
The Broncos lead 4-0 after the first inning and 5-3 after two but the visitors would not go away. The score was tied after the 5th inning 7 and tied at 8 after the sixth. The green guys had plenty of base runners with 143 hits and 6 walks. Larry Barajaz reached base 4 times with a single and three of the walks. Brian Mullen homered in the first to set the Broncos on the winning path.
Steve Tuchel earned the victory by throwing two innings while surrendering one run.
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Wheaton Academy (Game 1)
There is no such thing as an easy game around here. Walther took game one of a conference double header 8-5 but Wheaton Academy scored late and ended the game with the winning run in the at bat in the seventh.
Walther had a 3-1 lead after four but the Warriors erupted for 3 in the fifth and the home team had their backs against the wall. The offense stepped up and score 3 in the bottom of the fifth featuring a two run homer to left by winning pitcher Steve Easter and two more in the sixth using two singles, two free passes and a Wheaton error.
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Wheaton Academy (Game 2)
It is hard to believe but at the corner of 9th and Chicago the next game is even better than the last one. The Broncos, playing their 8 th one run game of the year took home a victory 2-1 scoring on a seventh inning suicide squeeze. Larry Barajaz left at just the right time and Steve Tuchel placed the ball so well he reached first base safely.
Mike Babchack was the winning pitch turning in a brilliant effort after having thrown two innings earlier in the week to close a conference win. The starter was showing signs of fatigue in the bottom of the seventh as he walked two and had the bases loaded when David Tuomi made a heads up play to force the third out at second base. The senior from St. John's Wheaton struck out 7 and walked 5 during his gutty appearance.
The pin stripers made things rough on themselves leaving 6 runners on base during the game. The young Broncos continue to make mistakes on the bases as two of the green guys were caught off second base at key times.
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Riverside Brookfield
A gray sky hovering over the right fielder caused enough havoc that the Broncos had an 11-5 loss hung on them by the Bulldogs of Riverside Brookfield. Two key calls went against the visitors and the home team scored 6 runs despite the Broncos conviction that third and sixth innings should have ended much sooner.
Sophomore Scott Swiderek was let down by the defense and was only able to work through the fourth inning. Chirrs Rankins and Logan Miller finished up the affair. Mike Babchack gave the green team a spark with an old fashioned in the park style home run.
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Luther South (Game 1)
A much improved Luther South team came to play a week night double header. In Game one the Braves had earned a 5-3 lead as the Broncos came to bat in the bottom of the third. From there the offense of the Broncos asserted itself and the game was never again in doubt. The final tally of 17-6 gave the home team a conference win. Mike Kimminau had two triples, and the Broncos added 4 more extra base hits
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Luther South (Game 2)
Walther hitters picked up where they left off in the second game of the double header with sister school Luther South. The final score of 18-3 gave the green guys a sweep. Ryan Baker was the winning pitcher. Brian Muller had a homer and a double in two at bats.
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Westmont
Fresh off the Illinois High School Association seeding meeting that selected Walther number one in our tournament sub section the team prepared to take on Westmont the number four seed in the other half of Walther's Sectional. The Sentinels turned things upside down defeating the pin stripers 9-7 in a game shorted to six innings by rain.
The visitors scored in half of the innings but that was enough. They tallied three times in the opening frame, and four times in the 5 th to put the game away
The Broncos kept battling with three runs in the 2nd and 5th innings. Steve Easter, Larry Barajaz and Ryan Baker had two hits a piece.
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Lake Forest Academy
The Caxzy's, of Lake Forest Academy, came calling on the Friday night of our spring musical. Mike Babchack was not on the filed or the bench as he prepared for his role in “Singin' in the Rain”. Still, the Broncos had enough to earn an 8-4 victory. A pitching patch work did the job. Junior Victor Reeves got the win with relief help from David Tuomi and Chris Rankins who had pitched earlier in the week.
Timely hitting gave the Broncos all of the runs needed for the non conference win. The major portion of the damage was done by the Broncos in the 3 rd when 5 green guys crossed the plate. The highlight was a well executed suicide by Junior David Tuomi.
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Illiana (Game 1)
If you like high school baseball you would have loved this game, featuring Illiana's pro prospect Braden Kapteyn and Walther's ace Steve Easter. Two key mistakes gave the Vikings the three runs they need to claim a 3-2 win. The tightly played game saw the Broncos on top 2-0 after back to back doubles by Mike Kimminau and Steve Easter and a big error by the visitors.
The 7th inning was a killer for the home team as Illiana scored the game winner on a Walther over throw and the Broncos left two runners in scoring position, unable to respond to the Vikings tally.
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Illiana (Game 2)
The Broncos could not escape the doldrums that resulted from their toughest loss of the year and took it on the chin 10- 0 in game two of the conference double header. The twin losses have any hopes for a continued reign as conference champs a serious blow.
Mike Babchack was extended far beyond his normal pitch count as a floating strike zone made his task more difficult than normal. The Walther hitters stuck out 11 times and only Steve Tuchel and Scott Swiderek were able to reach base with a hit during the pivotal game.
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Timothy Christian (Game 1)
The Broncos got back on track in this game against Timothy. The last time the two teams met the Broncos won the Sectional final on their march to the IHSA state tourney. On this day the Broncos powered by a three run homer by Mike Babchack and 5 shutout innings from sophomore Scott Swiderek took a 7 -1 victory. The home team scored the first 5 runs of the game with two outs. The green gang struck for one run in the 3 rd and 4 th and three in the 5 th . The lone run for the Trojans came in an inning where a nifty 1,2,3 double play freed the Broncos from the danger of a bases loaded 1 out situation. Steve Tuchel threw two strong innings as every member of the time got on the stat sheet.
Steve Easter and mike Babchack had two hits apiece and Scott Swiderek and Victor Reeves contributed doubles.
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Timothy Christian (Game 2)
A great pitching performance by Senior Chris Rankins built on the Broncos first inning runs and lead to an 11 -0 victory over Timothy. The right hander struck out 5 in a four inning stint walked one and gave timothy their only hit, a single in the fourth when the Broncos were already up 6-0. Logan miller threw a scoreless 5 th and Steve Easter struck out 4 in the 6 th and 7 th .
The Broncos continued the timely hitting of the previous day. Nine of the runs crossed the plate after two were out.
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Chicago Christian (Game 1)
First inning jitters have become a plague to the house of the Broncos in game one of a Saturday doubleheader the pain continued. The Knights scored three in the first, aided by sloppy play and weak Bronco communications. Then the curtain went up on the Steve Easter show. The strong senior hurler struck out 11 in a five inning game while going 1 for 3, with a triple at the bat.
The Broncos shook off the first inning blues throwing an 11 hit barrage at the home team. The final score of 13 – 3 saved the Easter pitch count and featured a balance attack in which the Broncos posted a crooked number of the Knight's big scoreboard in the 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th and 5 th innings. Mike Kimminau, Dave Tuomi, Victor Reeves, and Steve Tuchel had multiple hit games and Tuchel hit a big fly scoring 3 in the 3 rd .
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Chicago Christian (Game 2)
Have we talked about the first inning jitters? This one caps them all sophomore Scott Swiderek was hurt by two errors early in the inning as he gave up 7 in the first frame. The Green guys started the game with 5 of their own in the top half of the inning and regained the lead with 3 more in the 2 nd . With an 8 -7 lead and the first/worst inning behind them things looked good. Swiderek put the Chicago Christian down 1, 2, and 3 in the second but there were still hard times ahead. When the smoke had cleared the Broncos scored 9 but gave up a season high 16.
Luke Wilkening had a long homer and Steve Easter and Mike Babchak circled the bases without going over the fence. Still, the Broncos wasted 14 hits as they could never get the big out. The Knights simply out slugged the Broncos dealing the team a meaningful loss.
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Luther North
Again! Visiting Luther North got to the Broncos starter Christ Rankins for 3 in the first. Good thing that Junior Logan Miller came in and slammed the door, restoring order with 6 shutout innings. Miller struck out 9 and only walked 1 in his strongest outing of the year.
The Broncos trailed until they were able to push across 5 runs in the top of the 3rd. The Broncos put 26 runners on base that featured long balls hit by Steve Easter and Ryan Baker. Easter and Brian Mullen were the only broncos to have two hits. In all 10 different of the pin stripers had at least one hit and 12 of the 13 boys who went to the plate reached safely.
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Luther North
Senior Chris Rankins threw the game of his career against conference opponent Luther North earning a 5-0 win with a 5k, 2 walk, and 3 hit shutout performance. The Broncos committed two errors but the hurler never lost his focus.
The offense put up 10 hits struck out only 3 times. Steve Easter had a perfect 4 for 4 day, fellow senior Mike Babchack went 2 for 3 with a big 3 run homer in the 5 th inning. Scott Swiderek reached base 3 times.
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St. Joe
What a ride! 2-0, 3-1, 3-3, 4-3, 4-4, 5-4, the Broncos lead St. Joe's four different times but the game was not finished until two extra innings were in the book.
Walther pitching was superb. Steve Easter threw the first seven innings. He struck out 10 and walked two, while surrendering the tying runs in the bottom of the seventh on a two out pinch hit triple. Mike Babchack threw the final two and picked up the win as he stranded two runners on in the bottom of the ninth.
The winners only struck out three times in the whole game. It was a great game that could have ended earlier as the Broncos stranded 10 on the day and committed two huge errors in the 8 th to allow St. Joe's to stay in the game.
The Broncos scored in strange ways as three tallies came on fly outs to right field and a fourth run scored when Luke Wilkening motored home from second after Chris Rankins struck out on a ball in the dirt, avoid the catchers tag and went to second on an overthrow. Steve Tuchel scored the team's third run and drove in the second run on a sac fly and singled home the winning tally in the midst of a 3 for 4 day.
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Latin
Nine strikeouts in a seven inning game is a recipe for disaster and the Broncos followed in a 6-4 loss to the Latin School. The Romans moved their record to 13-3 as they held a 6-1 lead going into the last half of the seventh. The Broncos stage a rally scoring three runs and putting the tying run at the plate with only one out. The home team left 8 runners on base including 3 in the opening frame. But the three and four hitters for the Broncos went quietly and the green guys logged their 12th loss of the season.
Junior outfielder Mike Kimminau went 3 for 4 and drove in two big runs with a double in the final frame. Dave Tuomi went 2 for 3 and drove in the final run for Walther. The Romans pitched well and hit the ball hard.
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Westminster
The Broncos have come to redefine heart break. On this day the winning run scampered across the plate for the opponent on a passed ball. The host Westminster team defeated the Broncos for the second time this season by one run. And again the Broncos poor fielding gave up more than the margin of error.
Senior Steven Easter staked the Broncos to a first inning 2-0 lead with a laser like homer to left. The Broncos scored two more in the third and lead 4-0. Then the team went in to a stall. The Warriors scored two unearned runs in the 4th on a dropped fly ball to right. The score was knotted in the 5th when a couple of infield hits were followed by a double.
Chris Rankins did a fine job through four innings surrendering only the two unearned runs while striking out 3 and hitting a single batter who came across to tie the score. Rankins was relieved by Logan Miller who took the loss.
After the homer and a single Easter was given two intentional passes. The second freebee put the go ahead run on base in the top of the 7th. Six additional Broncos chipped in with hits. The offense could not get the job done leaving two men on in three different innings.
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IHSA Regional Game vs. Pritzker
The chase is on. The Broncos took the first step on the road to Joliet. In the Quarter Finals of the Walther Regional the host team defeated Pritzker College Prep 13-0. The Broncos box score is a piece of work showing 19 players, including four pitchers combining for a shutout. Mike Babchack throw the first two innings followed by Scott Swiderek, Ryan Baker and new call up Najee Finner.
The 10 run rule only gave the home team four innings to do their work. Seventeen different Broncos came to the plate as they made 13 runs and only 12 outs. The Broncos we aided by a number of walks and errors made by the visitors. Mike Babchack had a double to the gap in the first inning which drove in two and put the team ahead 3-0.
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IHSA Regional Championship Game vs. Francis Parker
The Broncos won their fourth consecutive Regional Tournament on a sunny Saturday on the home field. Steve Easter was a Monster on the hill. Only two hitters reached base, a 4th inning walk and a 5th inning error were the only offense visiting Francis Parker could muster. Easter stuck out 11 and only went to 3 balls on 2 hitters.
On the offensive side nine hits and six walks lead to 10 runs for the Green Guys in six innings. Easter was prominent in the scoring he bagged two doubles and scored twice. Brian Mullen and Steve Tuchel also had two hits and Mike Babchack had three including a first inning triple which helped to set the tone.
All 19 members of the State Tourney roster played for the second straight game.
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IHSA Sectional Game vs. Lisle
The pendulum swings both ways and today in the first round of the Sectionals, at Driscoll the Broncos benefitted from someone else's mistake. Trailing Lisle 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth, Walther loaded the bases and scored two runs when Luke Wilkening struck out. By the time the lions backstop located the ball and threw to first two runs crossed the plate and send the Broncos into the Sweet Sixteen for the second year in a row.
Things were scary for the Green Guys as Mike Babchack had a rough game giving up 4 unearned runs in 5 innings on the hill. In the Sixth Steve Easter took over the mound duties and did not allow a run.
It was an exciting high school game where there is no such thing as a “routine play”. The Broncos had trouble with the sun and with couple of ground balls to boot. The Bronco batters only managed 4 hits and made them count despite leaving 4 runners on the bases. The Lions stranded 6 and had 5 hits.
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