Capable of playing multiple positions, senior A.J. Beggs is starting in the outfield for Center Grove this spring.
Daily Journal file photo
A.J. Beggs usually found himself occupying real estate in the bottom third of an extremely well-stocked veteran batting order last season.
Center Grove’s starting right fielder figured this time around would be different, and he’s so far hitting that prediction right on the nose.
Beggs, the team’s 6-foot, 200-pound cleanup hitter, has been a significant factor in the 2023 Class 4A state runner-up jumping out to a 9-0 record and taking a No. 1 ranking into tonight’s game at Greenwood. He sports a .360 batting average and has produced a double, a triple and a home run, scoring 10 runs and driving in nine more.
The senior finds himself in that unique world of being expected to lead younger teammates while producing at the plate and in the field. Watching the 13 seniors who established the example for the squad that lost to Penn, 2-0, last June at Victory Field in Indianapolis provided him the needed blueprint.
“It was really good to watch them, learn from them,” said Beggs, one of three starters returning from last season’s 29-4 finisher, the others being senior shortstop Noah Coy and sophomore first baseman Kobe Cherry. “Just having that knowledge from those other guys.
“It’s definitely made me a more polished hitter. I felt comfortable going into this year. I feel relaxed, and am having a lot of fun.”
Center Grove coach Keith Hatfield remembers once slotting Beggs into the fifth spot in his batting order a year ago; mostly, he hit sixth, seventh or eighth. In the 4A final, Beggs was the team’s designated hitter, batting seventh. He finished his junior year with a .236 average, six doubles, a homer and 21 runs batted in.
Two years ago, Beggs batted .414 and clubbed four home runs.
“A.J. is a big, physical kid. He’s competitive and hard-nosed,” Hatfield said. “He struggled some last year, and bounced up and down the lineup. Obviously, he wasn’t happy with how he was doing, but he tried to keep his spirits up.
“He was never not fun to be around. Just a great kid.”
In the fall, Beggs returned to playing football for Center Grove after electing to sit out the 2022 season. An outside linebacker, Beggs finished the season with 47 tackles, with a high of eight in the Trojans’ 36-18 victory over Harvest Prep (Ohio) in Week 5.
The conditioning Beggs went through to prepare for the gridiron benefits him in baseball. He insists he’s not necessarily faster than he was a year ago, but he is definitely more athletic.
Center Grove sets Beggs up with Coy as the leadoff hitter, sophomore catcher Tristan Yerman batting second and another soph, second baseman Gannon Grant, hitting third.
Beggs has committed to play baseball at Southwestern Illinois College in the city of Belleville. He was recruited to play catcher first, but also expects to spend time in the outfield for the Blue Storm.
In the meantime, Beggs will do everything in his power to help the Trojans piece together another scrapbook-worthy season. Counting the team’s current start, Center Grove is 92-12-1 since Beggs reached high school.
Being a senior invites new expectations, but Beggs is ready.
“I definitely think there’s a pressure, but it keeps me focused, especially with this being my third year as a varsity player,” he said. “It’s about being able to put the ball in play and help my team score as many runs as we can.”
