Maine East looks to turn baseball program around

Head coach Ron Clark doesn’t look at the numbers.

He knows his Maine East baseball team finished last this spring in the Central Suburban North, with a record of 4-20.

In its last game in the playoffs, the Blue Demons managed only one run, while Leyden scored 16.

“We won only four games, but that doesn’t tell the whole story,” Clark said. “I’m more concerned about the process. If we work hard every day, work on the things we need to and live up to our potential, then I think the record will take care of itself.”

In the summer league playoffs, Wheeling defeated Maine East 12-9 in the first round of the Palatine Regional on July 18. With most of his squad composed of returning seniors, Clark said the tournament was a step forward.

“We have experience now and had a little taste of success at the end of the summer,” said Clark, who will enter his second season as head coach. “It all depends on how we progress throughout the offseason because the raw material is there. It’s just a matter of bringing it all together.”

The Blue Demons finished the summer 7-10-1, winning six games in a row before the playoff loss to the Wildcats. That streak at the end came as no surprise to Clark.

“We finally broke through, and I was just waiting for it to happen,” Clark said. “Heading into the offseason, it’s nice to end on a good note.”

Clark — who had coached the Demons football team — took over a baseball team that had posted just three victories the previous season.

With a senior-heavy core for next season, Maine East will be hungrier to have a strong season, according to Clark.

Seniors such as all-conference shortstop and pitcher Cory Evans and four-year varsity catcher Phil Papaioannou, who is playing American Legion ball this summer, will lead the Blue Demons.

“We have pitching depth, we have experience, we have leadership on the team and we have talent — developed talent,” Clark said.

Now that the summer season is concluded, Clark encourages his players to stay competitive, especially by participating in fall and winter sports. Senior outfielder George Zakharia, for example, is Maine East’s quarterback.

For those who aren’t involved in other sports, Clark set up a weight-lifting program, baseball open gyms and pitching-hitting sessions.

He knew he wasn’t taking over a baseball program with a standout reputation, but Clark knew he had inherited a group of sophomores and juniors.

During last season and into the summer, Clark noticed more competitive execution and signs of confidence.

The key word next spring is “potential” and bringing it all together, according to Clark.

“If you haven’t experienced a lot of success, and you’re in a close game, it’s hard to find ways to win because you haven’t done it before,” Clark said. “Before we were tentative. Now, we have to be more confident and assertive.”

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