Johnny Kisner has played baseball for as long as he could walk, and the Rochelle Township High School senior still remembers learning the game by playing catch with Velcro gloves and tennis balls in his basement with his father John when he was just a little boy.

From Rochelle Little League to travel baseball and ultimate the Hubs varsity baseball team, Kisner has blossomed into an important utility player for the Rochelle squad. While his role model on the field may be Chicago Cubs shortstop and super utility player Javier Baez, Kisner said his father has been an instrumental figure in developing his passion for baseball.

“My dad has been coaching baseball for around 30 years,” Kisner said. “I just grew up around the game. Hitting, fielding and just being able to make every possible play are my favorite things about the game. I can play anywhere the coach puts me and I think I can do a fairly decent job.”

Kisner played for Rochelle during his freshman and sophomore years of high school, and although he didn’t suit up for the Hubs during his junior year due to academic concerns, Kisner is back in action this spring for one final ride. He said he’s been looking forward to his senior season nearly his whole life, and he’s been working hard both inside and outside the classroom to make it happen.

“I’ve been playing my whole life and baseball just feels normal to me,” Kisner said. “I feel like I can hit my zones when I pitch but I think I can throw the ball a little bit harder… I enjoy the community especially since I grew up around everybody. We’ve all played on the same teams together and it’s nice because everybody is coming together.”

Kisner and the Hubs have won two of their first three varsity games to tee off the 2018 season. Often hitting at the top of the order in the No. 2 spot, Kisner doubled and scored one run in Rochelle’s 6-2 victory over Harlem to start the season. Kisner also went 2-for-4 with two singles when the Hubs faced Rockford Boylan in an 8-3 loss.

“My dad motivates me to get outside and hit on the tee for an hour,” Kisner said. “He also motivates me to get my work done in school and in the field… It’s important to listen to our coaches because they know what they’re talking about. When coach told me to hit the ball in the air I thought it was dumb advice… But now that I’m hitting the ball in the air I’ve seen some major differences.”

Kisner’s favorite moments throughout his life in baseball include traveling to Omaha, Nebraska to watch the College World Series and play in a tournament with his travel team. He said he enjoys studying mathematics in school, and he also said he wants to become an electrician after graduating RTHS. As a senior, Kisner has high expectations for the Hubs this spring.

“I feel like we’re off to a good start,’ Kisner said. “Our pitchers have gone deep into games… Everybody wants to win the regional and we just need to start hitting more. I think we are capable of scoring 15 runs a game against any pitcher. We need to hit the ball in the air and try moving runners around the bases.”