Athlete Spotlight: Aidan Rakowski

BISMARCK –  Bismarck High senior Aidan Rakowski’s development on the baseball field wasn’t a steady, smooth climb to the top.
He had to overcome adversity to get there.
Rakowski wasn’t always selected for the top team in youth ball. And when he did land on an A squad, his role was sometimes limited. Then, a tear in his rotator cuff sidelined him at age 14.
Those setbacks can be hard on any youngster, but Aidan pressed on. When he returned to the diamond, his focus was just enjoying the game and playing alongside friends. That positive approach would help him take things in stride.
“I have played since T-ball, and continue to grow my love and passion for this sport,’’ Rakowski said.
Soon, he started to find success in both high school and Legion ball.
“Aidan has matured exponentially from a physical standpoint,’’ Demon coach Scott Kinnischtzke said. “He had some injury issues as a freshman that hindered him a little, but still, he’s throwing 20 mph faster as a senior than he did that first year. A lot of that success he’s seeing on the mound now is because he was able to develop those big velocity gains to pair with what has always been a nasty curveball and a developing changeup.”
He also has come a long way at the plate. 
“His sophomore year was his first on varsity and he had one of the unluckiest seasons I can remember, Kinnischtzke said. “He constantly hitting balls hard right at people. Fortunately for him, and us, his luck has started to even out a little and his on-base percentage has increased about 200 points since then. He’s doing a much better job of using the whole field, discerning the strike zone, and attacking his pitch. He just constantly gives us good at-bats.”
Rakowski is batting just over .400 with a team-leading 37 hits. He’s also a workhorse on the pitching mound. He’s thrown 40 innings and has great command of his pitches.
“When I was younger my form in my swing and even for pitching has changed a lot,’’ Aidan said. “I was a smaller, stubbier kid my sophomore year. When I started to take baseball more seriously, I did a lot of off-season training through (Sanford) power. That really helped develop me as a baseball player. Also lifting (weights) really helped my development for baseball. Just putting in extra work, and having a better mindset.”
His approach at the plate is to be in control. “Even though I don't see much fastballs as a hitter, I am good with reading what pitch is coming,’’ he said. “That is something that really helped me is hitting those off-speed pitches, and with protecting with two strikes at the plate. When I’m at bat, I work a lot of full counts a lot, and foul off a lot of pitches.”
Extending the at-bats helps him when he faces the pitcher a second and third time. He’s ready for the different pitches coming his way.
On the mound, the game plan is to keep the hitter from gaining the upper hand.  “I throw a lot of different pitches that really mess with the hitter's head, and that is what makes me so successful is my off-speed pitches,’’ Rakowski said. “I have been pitching pretty much my whole life, starting when I was 10. When I'm on the mound I know all attention is on me and I love that. I feel like as a pitcher I control the tempo and momentum of the game.”
When he’s not pitching, Rakowski takes a spot in the infield, usually short stop.
“I was never an infielder when I grew up, or even my sophomore year,” he said. “I was strictly an outfielder. Then something came up where I needed to play shortstop my sophomore year and ever since then I have only been playing there.”
Baseball is game where perfection is elusive. Players have to have short-term memories and move on and not dwell on missed opportunities or mistakes.
“One thing I found challenging is this is a sport of failure,” he said. “You're not going to go 4-for-4, or throw a perfect game every time. People don't understand how mentally challenging baseball is. It's so easy to get inside your own head. Success comes from failure and accepting the fact that you will fail, and how you can come back from it and perform to your best ability.”
Fortunately, there has been more highs than lows this season. 
“I’d say Aidan’s confidence right now is probably at an all-time high, and for good reason,’’ Kinnischtzke said. “He came storming out of the gates this season and hasn’t looked back. That goes for really every aspect of his game. When you look at what he’s doing on the mound, at the plate, and in the field, I’m not sure there’s another kid in the entire WDA who is contributing as much as he is in every facet of the game. His numbers speak for themselves.”
As a senior, he’s expected to be a positive presence for the younger players. “He’s a quiet leader,’’ Kinnischtzke said. “Aidan’s not like this big rah-rah guy who’s going to rally the troops with some speech. But he’s also a kid who you’re never going to have to worry is off messing around. He’s going to be doing what he’s supposed to be doing 100 percent of the time, which is exactly what you want out of your best players, and especially your seniors.”
Aidan and his teammates are hopeful the success this season will continue. The Demons are looking to return to the state tournament for the first time since 2016. They enter the WDA Tournament as the No. 3 seed. That was the goal when the first pitch was thrown this spring. “With the ranking we are positioned in right now I have a lot of confidence in our guys that we can get the job done,’’ he said. “The goal we set coming into this year was to win WDA, and make that long term goal of making state.”
Although his high school career will wrap up later this spring, there is the chance baseball could be in Aiden’s future. He’s looking at options that may enable him to play in college. “
“I have a few options for college I could attend for baseball, but I am still not so sure yet,’’ he said. “Keeping my options still open and just still looking around.”
For now, there are big games ahead for Rakowski. And hopefully, a chance to reach the state tournament.
 

Photo: Jon Jablonski