LANSING, Ill. (June 20, 2024) – Illiana Christian baseball coach Jeff VanderWoude was talking with assistant Kevin Corcoran Sr. about seeing the big picture.
“If anyone said, ‘You get two state championships and a second (in three years), would you be happy? — of course we’d say, ‘Yeah,'” VanderWoude said.
That’s what the two-time defending state champion Vikings wound up with after falling 9-0 to Providence on Saturday at Victory Field in Indianapolis.
It was not just Illiana’s last game of the season, but VanderWoude’s farewell after five seasons as head coach at his alma mater. Next season, he’ll switch diamonds and join Illiana softball coach Nicole Wondaal’s staff as an assistant. He’ll get to coach two of his daughters: rising senior Lydia, who is committed to Belmont, and rising sophomore Mya.
“I love coaching,” VanderWoude said. “I love these young men. … (But) I’ve been looking forward to coaching my girls, I’m looking forward to being in the dugout with them.”
He won’t share a dugout any longer with his son Isaac, a Virginia recruit who played his final high-school game on Saturday.
“I brought him into my room the night before,” VanderWoude said. “We talked a little bit, how proud I am, not just on the field, (but) the man he’s becoming. He set his goals, and he went out and worked for it.”
In the title game, Illiana (21-10) was stymied by Providence sophomore right-hander Gavin Jackson (7-2), who pitched the first no-hitter in the 57-year history of the state finals.
“He pitched well,” VanderWoude said. “He moved the ball in and out, up and down. He threw his breaker for strikes.”
Illiana had five baserunners — three on walks (Tyler Balkema, Luke Passo, and Spencer Bandstra) and two who were hit by a pitch (Luke Smith and Tanner Post).
Post, a sophomore left-hander, started and took the loss, falling to 4-2.
Illiana was trying to become the first Class 2A team, and the third overall, to win three consecutive state titles. The Vikings had a 19-game playoff winning streak snapped and lost in the postseason for the first time since the 2021 sectional final.
In the postgame huddle, VanderWoude said, “each one of our coaches expressed how proud we are of what they accomplished over these years.”
Illiana graduates four players who started the title game: catcher Aaron Gouwens, shortstop Isaac VanderWoude, second baseman Balkema and DH Nick Neri.
Set to return are junior first baseman Jake Scott, Post, junior right fielder Passo, sophomore left fielder Bandstra, junior center fielder Smith, and junior third baseman Jack McDonald. Also back are all nine pitchers from this year’s staff, led by Post, Bandstra (5-0), and Scott (5-1).
“It’s just great to see when people have a vision and everybody buys in, to see it happen for the young men,” VanderWoude said.
Marian Catholic
Veteran administrator Mike Taylor will take over as the Spartans’ athletic director on July 1, the school announced. He replaces Kevin Kelly, who is retiring.
Taylor has worked at Marian for 21 years, including 20 as the Spartans’ boys basketball coach until he stepped down before last season. He previously was AD at now-closed Hales Franciscan and had been an assistant AD at Marian.
Related
- Illiana baseball goes for third consecutive state title Saturday (June 13, 2024)
- Illiana Christian baseball wins 17th straight postseason game – other local scores (June 4, 2024)
