Huycke fitting in as Rockets’ new leadoff man

The Rock Falls junior was an effective No. 9 hitter for the baseball team a year ago. This year, he's being moved to the leadoff spot.

Duties for the job will essentially remain the same.

"I'll need to be more of a contact hitter," said Huycke, who batted .295 a year ago in a power-packed Rock Falls lineup. "I used to always bunt, and bunting doesn't always work in high school, so I'm going to have to be able to hit the ball and make contact."

Rock Falls coach Donnie Chappell noted Huycke's offensive role on the team will actually change very little. He'll still be expected to see as many pitches as possible, to aid the batters coming up next; to lay down the occasional bunt, the better to keep opposing defenses on their toes; and to set the table for what could be an explosive offense.

"The progression is an easy one to make," Chappell said. "It's not like he's going from a No. 4 hitter where he hits the first pitch. He's going from a 9-hitter to a 1-hitter, so his role probably won't change as much for him as it would from another spot in the batting order. He's a patient kid, and he's not going to try to do too much. He's not going to try to hit home runs."

In the field, Huycke is entering his second year as a starter in center field, the position he's played his entire baseball life. He played it well as a sophomore, with just a single error in 2012.

One of the few times Huycke had any difficulty was actually an off-the-field issue. A teammate had forgotten his equipment bag before a doubleheader against Sherrard, and in going back to retrieve it, it made the duo about 10 minutes late from when they were supposed to be at the ballpark. Huycke was benched, but eventually saw playing time. It didn't go well.

"[Coach Chappell] put me in in the fifth inning and I wasn't ready for a game at all," Huycke said. "I misread a ball, and it got over my head. I'll never be late for a game again."