Matt Levins - The Hawk Eye / John Gaines Photography
Maddox Diewold is often seen but seldom heard.
Diewold, a senior on the Notre Dame High School baseball team, quietly goes about his business, preferring to let his play do his talking.
Diewold’s play has been speaking volumes lately.
No matter where coach Chris Chiprez puts Diewold in the lineup or in the field, he gets the job done.
Diewold has played second base, right field and center field this season and has made two appearances on the pitcher’s mound.
A prime example of Diewold’s value to the Nikes came in Friday’s 12-2 victory over SEI Super Conference South Division rival New London at Winegard Field. After grounding out to end the first inning, Diewold roped a double to right-center field, driving in Eli Oleson in the third inning. Diewold later would score on a two-out, two-run single by Hank Humphrey to highlight a five-run inning.
For Diewold, it’s all about winning the mental battle every at bat.
“This whole year has been a mental battle. I’ve been really unlucky so far. A lot of line drives not getting down. It’s nice to see them start falling,” said Diewold, who is hitting .345 with a .473 on-base percentage and a .400 slugging percentage. “It was big. I’m not a big doubles guy. It’s nice to get one in every now and then.”
Seeing Diewold do all the little things right is something Chiprez has grown accustomed to the last five summers.
“Maddox has had a really great year for us as of today,” Chiprez said. “He really works at it. It’s great to see that his hard work is paying off.”
Diewold is one of the Nikes’ top bat handlers, one reason Chiprez has him hitting in the five spot most of the season. He helps move runners into scoring position, whether that be by a hit, hitting the ball to the right side or laying down a bunt.
On Friday, with Oleson on first base, Diewold laid down a perfect bunt. Not only did Diewold beat out the bunt with his tremendous speed, Oleson raced all the way to third base on the play. That helped the Nikes add two runs to their total.
“I squared around to give Eli a chance to steal. They never played him, so I took the opportunity that was given,” Diewold said. “The first pitch I wasn’t exactly ready to swing at the away pitch. The next pitch he came in and I had to jump on it where it was.”
Chiprez, who loves to play small ball to put pressure on the opposing team’s defense and manufacture runs, never hesitates to give Diewold the bunt sign. He knows more often than not, Diewold will get the job done.
“He’s probably one of our better bunters on the team, if not the best bunter,” Chiprez said. “With his speed, if he can get any ball down that grass edge, he can walk to first base.”
Notre Dame (13-7 overall, 6-2 South Division) is in a three-way tie for the South Division lead with Central Lee and Mediapolis.
Notre Dame has another busy week. The Nikes host Danville at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Winegard Field, then host Hillcrest Academy at 7 p.m. Thursday, Winfield-Mount Union/Columbus at 7 p.m. Friday and Van Buren County at 7 p.m. Saturday on Wall of Fame Night.
“I think we’re playing the right kind of baseball at the right time toward the second half of the year,” Chiprez said.