Juniors Rob Czarniecki and Troy Barrett give Chesterton baseball team star power; degree of quality depth in batting order, pitching staff and infield defense to be determined

Tom Keegan
Onwardtrojans.com

A sectional title. A streak of 18 victories in 19 games for a team that came out of the chute with a 1-4 record. An all-state season from center fielder Rob Czarniecki, then a sophomore.
Chesterton’s baseball players gave veteran head coach John Bogner quite a memorable season in his first year in charge of the program. The Trojans finished with a 22-7 record on the heels of four consecutive losing seasons.
So many key players from that team are gone, and in many ways the Trojans are starting over. Three All-DAC infielders, shortstop/pitcher Brayden Barrett, second baseman Greg Guernsey and third baseman Jason Bogner graduated, all difficult to replace in the field and at the plate.
Duplicating the sort of depth of skill in the batting order, the infield defense and the pitching staff poses a difficult challenge for the Trojans.
They do boast loud star power at the top of the roster with Czarniecki and left-handed starter/left fielder Troy Barrett.
Czarniecki batted .484 with 11 doubles, five triples, seven home runs and 38 RBI last season. More than half of his hits went for extra bases, and he walked 22 times and struck out 13. A Kentucky commitment, Czarniecki was ranked the 49th-best prospect in the nation in the Class of 2026.
Czarniecki also exceled from the mound last season, going 4-0 with an 0.73 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 28-2/3 innings. How much he will pitch this season remains to be seen. Sprinting on a cold day in preseason conditioning, Czarniecki strained a hamstring. Baseball has a long history of arm injuries brought on by subtle mechanical adjustments in the wake of leg muscle strains, so look for Bogner to take an extremely cautious approach with Czarniecki the pitcher.
Troy Barrett went 7-1 with a 1.18 ERA and 83 strikeouts (just 12 walks) in 53-1/3 innings as staff ace a year ago as a sophomore.
He pitched the opener last week at New Prairie, a game scheduled at the last minute, and earned the win. He threw 110 pitches, allowed two runs (one earned), walked two and struck out 12.
An All-DAC pick as a sophomore, Barrett also is a talented outfielder who plays left field and moves to center when Czarniecki pitches. As a sophomore, Barrett batted .426 with eight doubles, a home run and 24 RBI. In the opener, he helped his cause by going 2 for 4 with a double, a run and an RBI.
Right fielder Nick Foust, who hit a grand slam in the seventh inning of the 7-4 win at New Prairie, gives the Trojans three proven outfielders. Foust will settle in at third in the batting order that starts with Barrett and Czarniecki. Andrew Goveia is first in line to get the start in the outfield when one of the outfielders pitches.
The infield is not as set. Adam Kurek was at first base in the opener, and senior Lucas Thompson will take his turn there in today’s home opener vs. Merrillville, the second game of the season.
Junior Nate Redman had a strong varsity debut at second base and is backed up by sophomore John Knight, noted for his strong glove work.
Junior Ethan Glassman, who celebrated his birthday last May making his varsity debut and slamming two long doubles in a 7-4 sectional title victory over Lowell, has shortstop locked up.
Senior Brady McCormack, back in less than six months from ACL surgery from an injury suffered in football, starts the season at third base but a return to first base is always an option. Eli McClelland also plays third base and reserve infielder Josh Davis is comfortable with the glove at either corner of the infield.
Caden Hackett showed maturity beyond his years as a freshman catcher and batted cleanup in the opener at New Prairie.
Hackett could catch as many as eight different pitchers. Barrett as Tuesday starter is the only role locked in. Senior Kaden Hawksworth will get the first shot at earning the Wednesday starting spot, Bogner said.
“Hawk, he’s had some outings where he could be our No. 1. he just looks that good sometimes,” Bogner said. “It’s just a matter of can he put it together every time. When his offpseed is working, he’s around the plate, he throws hard, good control, it’s just a matter of sometimes his control puts him right over the middle and he gets barreled up a little bit, a little bit. Senior, right? Has to produce.”
Bogner said that Dylan Bradford, recovering from a back injury and still battling control issues, and Czarniecki, when healthy enough, are other possible starters/relievers.
The coach also mentioned Zach Fender, who picked up the save in the opener, Logan Chestovich, Foust and Thompson relievers.
Even though the infield defense and the pitching staff aren’t settled, Bogner listed hitting depth as his primary concern.
McCormack had a huge sectional tournament at the plate, but rehabbing from the knee injury was his primary offseason focus and it prevented him from getting as much other baseball work as he would have done in the offseason.
“He has to get comfortable with his feet and his knee and what he can do, how far he can stride,” Bogner said. “He still has to buy back into that just barrel up mentality, instead of swinging and yanking his head. I shouldn’t be able to see his face and his shoulders.”
McCormack isn’t alone in that need for change, Bogner said. The Trojans struck out 12 times in the opener, a painful admission for a coach who harps on the importance of shortening up on the bat and moderating the swing with two strikes. When he took the job, Bogner said he didn’t’ think that philosophy would take root overnight, so he’s not surprised it hasn’t. But that doesn’t he mean he’s not impatient for the need for it to happen.
“The way I teach it isn’t the way the JV teaches it, not with the same tenacity and passion” Bogner said. “If I’m not happy with it, I’m going to ask you to give me more of the two-strike approach. Some guys worry about changing a hitter’s style and making him uncomfortable. You have two strikes, you don’t have the luxury to get comfortable anymore.”