Naperville Central’s Journey Ends in State Semifinal Loss

Senior left fielder Michael Page played a significant role in Naperville Central reaching the Class 4A state semifinal on Friday. Page, focused on enjoying the experience regardless of the result, stated, “It was just awesome. The atmosphere with so many people, so many fans, and playing on the biggest stage is always great.”

The Redhawks’ quest for a state championship since 2010 concluded with a 9-1 loss to Maine South at Slammers Stadium in Joliet. This defeat ended a 15-game winning streak, but Page was not to blame. He went 2-for-3 with a walk, scored their only run, and caught all three balls that came to his left field position.

Naperville Central coach Mike Stock praised Page, saying, “I said it at our awards night, you can’t have a better senior year. Every player goes in with a plan, particularly seniors, and aims to be a certain type of player. He’s become a great outfielder and the best hitter I’ve seen consistently all season.”

Page, who increased his batting average to .383, was effective against Maine South. He got the game’s first hit—an opposite-field single in the top of the first—and added another single to right in the third inning. “I think my first at-bat, jumping on that first fastball, really got us going,” Page reflected, acknowledging this moment as a game highlight.

Despite a promising start, the Redhawks left the bases loaded in both the first and third innings and ultimately stranded 10 runners. Meanwhile, the Hawks capitalized on five errors, scoring seven runs in the first two innings. Despite the challenging start to the season, Page commented, “At the very start, it wasn’t what I envisioned, but as a senior-heavy team, we found our stride as the season progressed.”

Naperville Central was fortunate to have two strong leaders. Page and senior third baseman/pitcher Grant Umbright each went 2-for-3 with a walk, often reaching base simultaneously. Umbright, who batted directly behind Page, held complete confidence in his teammate. “There was no better teammate,” Umbright remarked. “Any ball in the air, he catches it. At the plate, he always gets the job done.”

Umbright valued hitting after Page. “Following him allowed me to drive in runs. I’ve had many RBIs this season, thanks to our starting hitters, including Mike.”

Page attributed his performance to dedication, which coach Stock observed firsthand, noting, “He works incredibly hard. He’s stronger, more confident, and never fell into a slump, hitting safely in 14 out of our 15 conference games.”

Though denied a state title shot, the Redhawks still had the opportunity for a victorious finish against Mount Carmel in the third-place match. Page concluded, “This has been an incredible experience for us. We have 17 seniors, and this journey has been the best way to finish. We’ve been on a great run and came up a bit short today.”

Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.