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Taking the mound in a professional All-Star Game for the first time Wednesday night, Windy City ThunderBolts left-hander Cal Djuraskovic could hardly contain his excitement.
Djuraskovic, a Chicago native and graduate of Bishop Noll in Hammond, Indiana, was fired up to have the special moment taking place at home in front of loved ones.
“It was great to have the family come, great to be a hometown kid and just represent,” Djuraskovic said. “I’m very grateful to get this opportunity and hope it’s just the first of many.”
Djuraskovic struck out two in a scoreless inning of relief as his West Division team lost 10-4 to the East Division in the Frontier League All-Star Game at Ozinga Field in Crestwood.
Six members of the host T-Bolts were selected to the West roster, with Djuraskovic, pitcher Garrett Christman, infielders Micah Yonamine and Junior Martina and outfielder Bren Spillane seeing action in the game. Pitcher Henry Omana was unable to participate due to an injury.
Djuraskovic worked his way into some trouble, allowing a walk and two singles to load the bases with one out. But he got a pop-up and strikeout to escape the jam.
“It’s one of those situations where things can speed up really fast, but once you get that deep breath in and get that mantra going like ‘I got this,’ things kind of go your way,” he said. “It’s just one pitch at a time, I like to tell myself.”
Things have mostly been going Djuraskovic’s way throughout his Windy City career. In his third season with the team, he’s been a reliable late-inning reliever. This summer, he’s 1-2 with a 4.00 ERA over 18 appearances.
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Djuraskovic, a Davenport University graduate who joined the T-Bolts in 2021 after a short stint with the Gary SouthShore Railcats, is still looking for his first chance to play with an affiliated minor league club.
But he embraces every opportunity he has to pitch.
“There are two things that keep me going,” he said. “My family, for sure. When I get to see them at games with pictures and signs and hear them cheering my name, that makes me feel good.
“The second thing is just loving the game so much. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. It’s a real grind, but it’s one of those things where if you stick to it, it’s going to pay off.”
Djuraskovic experienced something new this spring when he took on a volunteer assistant coaching role with Prairie State College, working with the team’s pitchers.
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“I had no idea how to be a coach coming into it, but having that experience is such a good thing,” he said. “I feel like I can see baseball at a different perspective now. It’s one of those old sayings, ‘Practice what you preach.’
“When I tell the college players to work on certain mechanical things, I realize, ‘Wow, I’ve got to work on that same thing myself.’ It’s cool to see it from the other side. I’d definitely consider coaching in the future or being a general manager or something like that.”
Christman, who is also in his third season with the T-Bolts, threw a perfect second inning Wednesday.
“It’s going to be tough facing those All-Star hitters,” Christman said. “I know they’re going to be swinging. So, it was just sticking to my game plan and throwing the ball over the plate and whatever happens, happens. Just have fun out there.”
Plenty of fun was had as the T-Bolts hosted the All-Star Game for the first time since 2001.
“It was great that we got to have it here and put on a show for our fans,” Spillane said.
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.