High school baseball: Speedy Will Komar ignites state-bound Prairie Ridge

Prairie Ridge outfielder Will Komar’s skills at the leadoff spot, along with the problems he presents for opponents, were on full display Monday night.

Komar reached base in all four at-bats, scoring three times, wreaking havoc with his speed on the bases as the Wolves defeated St. Francis, 5-4, in the Class 3A Schaumburg Supersectional at Wintrust Field.

The Wolves (18-13) face Washington (24-6) at 10 a.m. Thursday back at Wintrust Field in a Class 3A State Tournament semifinal game, hoping Komar, who owns a .522 on-base percentage, can spark them again at the top of the lineup.

“Their leadoff hittter scored three times and I think that was the key to the game,” St. Francis coach Tom Ciombor said after Monday’s game. “They get those first two guys on and capitalize.”

Komar, who is hitting .405, was 2 for 2 with a bunt single and a double, along with two walks. He walked and scored on Alex Milone’s double in the first, then hit a high chopper that bounced over third baseman Adam Wiborg’s head and rolled into left field. Wiborg was pulled in, anticipating a bunt.

Komar did bunt in the fifth and beat it out for a hit to first, then scored the game’s decisive run on Owen Brock’s single.

“There’s not a certain approach I have, it’s just hit the ball hard,” said Komar, a senior. “I can choose to bunt if I want. Hit the ball hard if I choose to swing. I have a lot of options with my speed.”

The Wolves have scored 19 runs in the first innings of their five postseason games. Komar has scored three times.

“That kid is the fastest kid I’ve ever seen,” said Milone, who hits behind Komar at No. 2. “He can fly around the bases. He’s so helpful for us and when he does his job, and when we do our job and get him in, he makes us look good.”

Despite missing five early games after playing football, Komar still has 35 stolen bases. When he was thrown out in the top of the seventh, Wolves coach Glen Pecoraro could hardly believe his eyes.

“He’s been unbelievable at getting on base, stealing bases, scoring runs,” Pecoraro said. “He bunts, he beats out ground balls, and he’s hitting .500 with runners in scoring position. He’s just been outstanding.”

The Wolves finished fourth in the Fox Valley Conference at 9-9 and started the postseason with a .500 mark, but they have played their best baseball at the most opportune time.

“The record does not matter,” center fielder-pitcher Matt Porter said. “Pec said he didn’t care what our record was, we just have to be better than the other team that day. We put runs on the board and force other teams to come back. That’s how we do it. I have amazing teammates who come in and grind every day. They hustle every day.”

Prairie Ridge won the 2008 Class 4A state championship and took fourth in the 4A state tournament in 2014. Milone thought the Wolves had the talent to do something special.

“We just put it together here at the end of the season and are playing our best ball,” the Wolves shortstop said. “I still believe we can win state. We have the talent, we have the guys, we have the energy. I believe it.”

Komar wants to do it for this team and past Wolves’ teams.

“It’s special for a bunch of guys who work hard every day,” Komar said. “It’s special for the seniors who didn’t get to play last year (because of the pandemic), that group of seniors was really good. We’re kind of doing it for them, doing it for coach, doing it for all of us.”