Rockets make it easy to be coach

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Richmond-Burton’s baseball team might be spoiling its coach.

It’s not only the success the Rockets have experienced on the field – and at 23-8 they have had their share – it’s the approach to the game they display every day.

“This is one of the easiest years I’ve had coaching,” Rockets coach Mike Giese said. “First and foremost, they just come to play. They listen to what you tell them. We have guys who are baseball smart and others who have baseball ability.”

R-B faces Vernon Hills at 2 p.m. today in the IHSA Class 3A Grayslake Central Sectional semifinals. The winner advances to Saturday’s 11 a.m. championship game against St. Francis.

The Rockets have a pair of aces in pitchers E.J. Trapino and Ray Wojciechowski, neither of whom allowed a run in the R-B Regional last week. They have third-year varsity players Travis Jewell, C.J. Daniels and Kevin Kurowski in the mix. They might play long enough to get injured slugger James Lesniewski back in the lineup.

But it’s more than ability that has made this team special to Giese.

“We all love the game and want to be there for each other,” said Jewell, the leadoff man and left fielder. “We all want to win, but we want to do it for each other. From the top to the bottom, we all love playing the game and we’re baseball smart.”

Jewell, Daniels and Kurowski were there two years ago when the Rockets were 12-24. Several of the other starters were there last year when R-B narrowly lost in the regional to Marian Central, which went on to finish third in the Class 3A state tournament.

“It’s been an uphill battle, and we’ve had to work hard,” Jewell said. “It’s just amazing how hard work pays dividends. It’s so rewarding.”

Lesniewski was hitting .509 with six home runs and 27 RBIs when he went out in late April with a broken bone in his right arm, near the wrist. He was hit by a pitch on the play, and his doctor originally thought it would take six to eight weeks to heal.

“He said I was healing ahead of schedule,” Lesniewski said. “The doctor said I could play again if I was pain-free. I’ve been swinging, but it’s still sore. I’m feeling better every day, and it’s kind of day-to-day at this point. It may be a game-time decision.”

Giese would love to have Lesniewski back, even in a diminished capacity.

“He took a couple of cuts [in practice Tuesday],” Giese said. “He hit three or four live pitches and almost killed me [with a line drive]. That swing had some hot sauce on it, and that gives me a little bit of hope. He really wants to play.”

Even if Lesniewski can’t play, Giese will be confident.

“You can never overlook anybody, but I’m confident in our ability to show up and play,” Giese said. “I don’t think our kids are done. I have good feelings about them.”