How Eli Eldred and Jake Shedarowich have Gilbert back in contention for an RRC baseball title

Jake Shedarowich and Eli Eldred have been playing with a chip on their shoulder all season for the Gilbert baseball team.

Shedarowich and Eldred are the only two regular starters back off last year's 23-9 team that reached the Class 3A substate finals. They are also the only ones who participated on the 2020 3A state runner-up team.  

So there wasn't much expected out of the Tigers entering the 2022 season.

“Everybody around us inside and outside the community have said oh, they lost everybody, they’re probably gonna have a down year,” Shedarowich said.

Instead, Gilbert is 13-7 following a 10-4 win over Carlisle Wednesday at Gilbert. The Tigers were in a tight race with Ballard, Adel-Desoto-Minburn and North Polk atop the Raccoon River Conference with a 7-4 conference mark following the Carlisle victory.

“We’ve come back and we’re having a ton of fun winning ball games," Shedarowich said. "I think the town is enjoying it and we love that.” 

Losing last year's amazing senior class led by Easton Johnson, Tucker Hanson, Jacob Papesh and Nick Chasey left Gilbert head coach Jeremy Eldred — Eli's father — with a tough challenge ahead of him heading into 2022. But after meeting with his son and Shedarowich in the fall he knew the 2022 Tigers were in great hands.

“They learned a lot from those guys last year,” Jeremy Eldred said. “They soaked it in and they became leaders ever since the season was over with last year. We had a meeting in November and those two were ready to go at that point in time.” 

The Tiger coach has been blown away by how well Shedarowich and Eli have performed thus far and even more so by their willingness to take the younger players under their wing.

“Those two lead this team better than anything I could ever ask for,” Jeremy Eldred said. “They have legit goals that are achievable.” 

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Through the Carlisle game Shedarowich is hitting .288 with 14 RBIs. That's well up from his .247 average in 2021.

But his true strength is defense. Shedarowich only has three errors in 112 chances and he's thrown out two base runners. He's also a big reason why a young Tiger pitching staff had a solid 3.11 ERA.

“When he’s behind the plate he controls the field,” Jeremey Eldred said. “He does a heck of a job with our pitchers and keeping them in the game.” 

Eli has been the team's top pitcher. He was 3-0 with a 1.58 ERA and 28 strikeouts against just five walks in 26 2/3 innings heading into Thursday's game at Boone.

“Us being the only two coming back it makes our connection a lot better,” Shedarowich said. “We’ve been at this for three years now. He’s fun to catch.”  

Eli said Shedarowich is a big reason why he's having so much success. 

“I can trust him,” Eli Eldred said. “I can throw him any ball on any count.” 

Eli also plays first base and occasionally center field when he isn't pitching.

“Eli does a great job of calming people down and being a leader out there on the field,” Jeremy Eldred said. “Whatever is asked of him he does it.” 

On offense Eli is hitting .444 with seven doubles, two triples, one home run, 15 runs and 13 RBIs. As well as he's performed as the team's top hitter, Eli knows there's still a ton of room for growth at the plate.

“It’s been fun, but I need to stop trying to go yard,” Eli Eldred said. “I need to put the ball in play and let things happen.” 

But Eli said how he does with his bat or his arm doesn't matter as long as the Tigers win.

"It’s better to see the team win when I have a bad day,” Eli Eldred said. “That’s really awesome.” 

Gilbert started 11-4 then dropped three of four games before the Carlisle victory. 

“We started out a lot hotter than people expected,” Shedarowich said. “I think we just hit that bottom and we’re only on our way up from here.” 

Coach Eldred is thrilled with how well his younger players have taken to his son and Shedarowich as the team leaders.  

“We’re green on the field compared to previous years,” Jeremy Eldred said. “They’re learning on the fly and soaking everything in just like those guys did. They’re doing a great job.” 

Shedarowich said the Tigers have a chance to achieve some big things, including making another run at state.

“We’re going to surprise a lot of people,” Shedarowich said. “Stay tuned for this team.”