The script could have been much different for Eureka baseball.
Uncertainty surrounded the program before the season even began with former Rockwood Summit head coach Ken Droege taking over for James Daffron, whose contract was not renewed.
But the Wildcats weren’t uncertain of themselves as they started the season with 15 consecutive victories and ended up 32-4, a program record for wins in a season.
“It was as special of a season and group of kids that I’ve ever been around,” Droege said. “I’m emphasizing how good of a group this was and how special of a run they had during a regular season. It doesn’t happen very often.”
Eureka won the Suburban Conference Yellow pool for the second straight year, posting a 10-2 mark and edging out Rockwood rivals Marquette (9-3) and Lafayette (8-4). Six Wildcats were named to the all-conference first team, including the player of the year, junior outfielder Brady Picarelli. Joining him were junior Gavin Bradley and seniors Asher Sink, Drew Nenninger, Carter Luft and Dakota Joggerst.
Picarelli batted .443 with five home runs, 25 runs batted in and 32 runs scored. He also had 13 stolen bases, contributing to the team total of 170.
“(Brady is) a difference maker,” Droege said. “Offensively, he’s a juggernaut, just such an athlete and a weapon (in) more ways than one. His versatility is incredible for a kid his size.”
Sink, a righthander, posted a 3-2 record and led the team in starts (eight), complete games (five) and strikeouts (39 in 28 1/3 innings).
“Asher was our guy all year long,” Droege said. “He threw in every tough game that we could throw him in, and he just continually got better as the year went on, and that was our goal for him.”
Center fielder Nenninger led the team with 41 hits, 23 walks and 26 steals as the leadoff batter. He hit .414 and drove in 20 runs and also excelled defensively, earning a league gold glove award with only two errors.
“What (Nenninger) does in centerfield, being able to run down pretty much anything and cover the gaps, is huge for us,” Droege said. “(Also), getting on base and being able to steal bags and being aggressive and playing our brand. He set that tone for us all year long, and he was consistent with it.”
Luft had only two errors at first base, good enough for gold glove honors, and hit .357 with 18 RBIs and 23 runs.
“He was the prototypical Eureka baseball player,” Droege said. “He’s athletic, plays hard, but his glove and how he played over there at first base was instrumental to our success defensively.”
Joggerst capped off a memorable Wildcat career, batting .402 with 30 RBIs and 23 runs and coming through in big moments. He drove in the only run in the Wildcats’ 1-0 victory over Marquette on April 26 that decided the conference champion.
“You don’t replace a Dakota Joggerst, just from a leadership standpoint, the way he plays the game,” Droege said. “The kid played the last part of the year with a broken hand. That’s the Eureka brand; that’s that toughness that makes us really good.”
Bradley took turns at catcher with second-team selection John Nisbet, a fellow junior, hit .402 and led Eureka with 32 runs batted in. He recorded at least one RBI in each of the Wildcats’ final seven regular season games.
“Gavin and Nisbet, they split time all year long,” Droege said. “That’s huge for a high school team to be able to do that and not lose anything defensively. Gavin’s presence offensively was incredible all year.”
The Wildcats demonstrated great depth with 13 players who drove in at least seven runs and 17 who stole at least one base. That was reflected in four players earning second-team honors: Nisbet, sophomore pitcher Jaxson Joggerst (Dakota’s brother), senior infielder Matt Burrows and junior infielder Brodie Hunt.
Eureka’s season ended too early, losing 5-3 to Lafayette in the semifinals of the Class 6 District 2 tournament.
“Our real main goal is to win that state championship and win late in the year,” Droege said. “It’s a great accomplishment, especially in that conference to do that back-to-back years, and it’s a credit to those kids, especially with going through a coaching change.”
The team is losing eight players to graduation, including infielder Maloy Heaghney, another gold glove winner. Droege said the team’s tenacity began with the seniors.
“They were as tough as any team out there,” Droege said. “We didn’t reach where we wanted to reach and (where) we expected to reach, but (the seniors’) legacy of toughness and resiliency is (something) we’re going to feel for a long time.”