Naperville Central’s Journey in the Class 4A State Semifinal

Senior left fielder Michael Page played a key role in Naperville Central’s appearance in a Class 4A state semifinal. Despite the outcome, Page intended to savor every moment. He expressed his excitement, saying, “The atmosphere with so many people, so many fans, and playing like that on the biggest stage is always great.”

The Redhawks’ pursuit of their first state championship since 2010 ended with a 9-1 defeat to Maine South at Slammers Stadium in Joliet. This loss halted their 15-game winning streak, but Page was not to blame. The North Central College commit achieved 2-for-3, walked once, scored the only run for the Redhawks (30-10), and caught all three balls hit his way.

“You can’t have a better senior year,” said Naperville Central coach Mike Stock during the team’s awards night. He praised Page for his improvement and consistency as both an outfielder and a hitter, highlighting his development into a top-notch left fielder. Page averaged .383 and performed notably against Maine South (26-15), including an opposite-field single in the first inning and a right-field single in the third.

Page remarked on the impact of his early at-bat, “I think my first at-bat, jumping on that first fastball, really got us going a little bit.” Unfortunately, the Redhawks left the bases loaded in both the first and third innings and stranded ten runners overall. Naperville Central’s struggle to capitalize on scoring opportunities highlighted Maine South’s advantage, built on five errors by Naperville, leading to a 7-0 score by the end of the second inning.

Reflecting on the season, Page noted his surprise at the team’s progression, given their senior-heavy lineup and varied players throughout the season. “As the season went on, we found our nine, and we just got hot,” he added.

The team benefited from leaders like Page and senior third baseman/pitcher Grant Umbright. Umbright also went 2-for-3 with a walk, consistently reaching base alongside Page. His trust in Page was evident. “There was no better teammate to play with,” Umbright expressed, appreciating Page’s reliability both in the field and at the plate.

Page attributed his achievements to his dedication and hard work, a sentiment echoed by Coach Stock. “He works his butt off,” Stock remarked, applauding Page’s consistent performance. “I’m just real proud of him, and he’s the reason we’re here, along with Grant.”

Though the Redhawks missed the chance for a state title, they looked forward to a third-place match against Mount Carmel. Page reflected, “This whole thing has just been an awesome experience for us. We have 17 seniors, so I think we couldn’t have asked for a better way to go out. We’ve been really hot, and today we just fell a little bit short.”