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winnetkacurrent.com sports
the winnetka current | June 14, 2018 | 35
Carlos Alvarez/22nd century
Media
1st-and-3
TEAMS OF THE SPRING
1. Loyola boys
lacrosse (above).
The Ramblers won
the first-ever IHSA
boys lacrosse state
title by defeating
rival New Trier 7-2
June 2 in Hinsdale.
With the win, the
Ramblers avenged
an earlier loss to
the Trevians.
2. New Trier girls
lacrosse. The
Trevians took
second in the
first-ever IHSA
girls lacrosse
state tournament,
dropping the title
game to host
Hinsdale Central
June 2 in Hinsdale.
3. New Trier girls
soccer. The
Trevians advanced
to the state title
game for the
fifth consecutive
season, but
dropped a penalty
kick decision to
Barrington for the
second year in a
row.
New Trier’s Charlie Tilson ready to go back in his return with White Sox
Michal Dwojak
Contributing Sports Editor
Charlie Tilson felt like
a kid again.
The Wilmette native
went back in time when
he ran onto the field of
Guarantee Rate Field on
May 24 for the first time
in over a year. He saw
the stadium’s scoreboard
and other features as he
and his White Sox teammates
prepared to stretch,
each detail bringing back
childhood memories of
playing baseball.
Tilson had played with
that child-like approach
to the game before he
tore his left hamstring
and battled numerous
other injuries that kept
him away from the game
he loves for over a year.
Now, he’s ready to be
back and feel like a kid
again.
“It was awesome,” Tilson
said. “These guys
have been so supportive.
It’s been a long journey
for me and I think that’s
been one thing you fear
as an injured player is
how your teammates are
going to look at you when
you’re not on the field.
... To open the doors to
that clubhouse and see
so many smiling faces, it
gives you butterflies.”
Tilson’s journey back
started in August 2016
when he initially tore his
left hamstring in Detroit,
in the first game of his
“Once I felt like I had my legs
back under me at the level that
I needed to be at physically, I
knew that when I conquered
that, I would conquer the baseball
aspect”
—Charlie Tilson, New Trier graduate and Chicago
White Sox outfielder on his road back to
the Major Leagues after multiple injuries caused
him to miss over a year.
major-league career. The
New Trier alumnus had
successful surgery and
his rehabilitation program
was on schedule,
but he wasn’t fully back
when he needed to be. He
battled a stress fracture in
his right foot that delayed
his return to the diamond
and eventually cost him
his 2017 season.
Despite the obstacles,
Tilson remained committed
to his plan. He
rejoined his teammates
in Arizona for the spring
and played in a few good
games before being one
of the first cuts and assigned
to the White Sox
Triple-A affiliate in Charlotte,
which was part of
the plan.
“For me, it’s been rediscovering
some of the
feelings at the plate, trying
to repeat them as
much as possible,” Tilson
said. “I’m in a great spot.
My legs feel great and it’s
great to be out here feeling
like you have all you
tools at play. That was
the tough thing for me
last year. I need my speed
so bad to be effective in
the game, to have it back
and to feel good, it’s an
incredible feeling.”
After spending a year
away from the game, Tilson
wanted to return to
the everyday grind he had
missed in the lost year.
His speed was something
many scouts and the
White Sox found so appealing.
Tilson played in 39
games for the Charlotte
Knights this spring where
he batted .248, drove in
10 runners and stole seven
bases. Knights manager
Mark Grudzielanek
helped Tilson throughout
his minor-league career,
which is why it seemed
appropriate the manager
told Tilson of his promotion
to the White Sox.
He’d battled different
obstacles along the way,
but once he got his legs
back, he knew he was
back to that same kid
player.
“Once I felt like I had
my legs back under me at
the level that I needed to
be at physically, I knew
that when I conquered
that, I would conquer the
baseball aspect,” Tilson
said. “It’s an adjustment
Charlie Tilson’s 2018
season at a glance*
BA: .227
OPS: .505
AB: 44
H: 10
R: 3
RBI: 2
SB: 2
*Through June 11
missing a full year, but
it’s an example of when
I set my mind something
that I can get it done.
There were a lot of setbacks
along the way, but
when you keep chipping
away at it, that’s baseball.”
Tilson’s return to the
clubhouse was business
as usual. There were
plenty of smiles waiting
for him in the White
Sox clubhouse, but he approached
the game like
he always had.
Chicago traveled to
Detroit the next day, forcing
Tilson to go back to
where his journey started.
He had his first hit of the
season and added a stolen
base in the White Sox’
first game in Detroit, a
perfect game to show that
he was back.
“For me it was a reminder
for how far I’ve
come,” Tilson reminisced.
“I remember all
those moments after I got
hurt, coming back to the
hotel, slowly realizing
how long of a journey it
was going to be. To be
back there and be healthy,
it was special.”
Now the only challenge
for Tilson is trying
to help his team win. He’s
adjusting to playing left
field and trying to play
small ball in the eighth
spot of the batting order.
Tilson’s batting .364 and
has one RBI in six games
as of June 1 and still has
that one stolen base.
“I just want to contribute
as much as possible,”
Tilson said. “It’s so fun
winning games up here.
Every day, you never
know when you’re opportunity
is going to call on
you in the course of the
game. You just have to be
ready for it.”
It’s a process, but Tilson
is happy to be back
where he thought he’d be:
feeling like a kid again.
Listen Up
“That was probably the best offensive
performance we’ve competed against this
year.”
Nick Bridich — LA baseball coach on Huntley’s offense.
tunE in
What to watch this week
SUMMER BASEBALL: High school baseball is back as summer
league ball starts with a local matchup.
• Loyola hosts Highland Park at Wednesday, June 20,
at 5 p.m. in Glenview.
Index
31 - Championship Photos
30 - Athlete of the Week
Fastbreak is compiled by Sports Editor Michael Wojtychiw,
m.wojtychiw@22ndcenturymedia.com.