The sharp glare of the spotlight doesn’t bother Aurora Christian’s Preston Morel whatsoever.
A sophomore infielder/pitcher, the versatile Morel doesn’t feel out of place in the big moments.
“I’ve been dealing with pressure ever since I was a little kid,” Morel said. “I’m used to it — and that is all the motivation I need. I play loose and I know how to keep my teammates up.”
Morel kept the Eagles on the upswing Friday afternoon, coming up with a two-run single that sparked his team to a 9-3 nonconference victory over host Aurora Central Catholic.
Junior infielder Nolan Robertson added two hits and drove in a run for Aurora Christian (8-2). Junior starter Zach Zappia (3-0) struck out eight, allowing five hits and a walk in five innings.
Junior pitcher Tyler Davis and freshman infielder Leo Corral drove in a run apiece for ACC (8-3).
Morel finished 2-for-2 with two walks and two runs. A starting guard in basketball, he had a quick turnaround to the spring season following the Eagles’ run to the supersectional in Class 1A.
“I was still practicing in the offseason, but basketball was a long season and I only had a week off between seasons,” Morel said. “I had a slow start with baseball, but I’m getting used to it.”
The 6-foot-2 Morel is hitting .379 with eight runs, three doubles and nine RBIs. He has the size and power to go deep and the athleticism to make plays on the bases or with his smooth fielding.
In his only start as a pitcher this spring, Morel struck out eight in four innings March 27 during an 8-3 win over Serena.
“He’s a baller,” Aurora Christian coach Andy Zorger said of Morel. “He comes to play every day. He never lets a strikeout or anything negatively affect him.
“He’s not really fazed by anything. He’s very versatile defensively and he can play a lot of different positions. He’s got a good head on his shoulders.”
Robertson said Morel has a disarming quality that allows him to fit into the culture of the team.
“The guy’s hilarious and he makes me laugh,” Robertson said. “He’s a competitor. He has fun, but he competes at the same time.
“I could tell last year when he was a freshman that he was going to be up with us. He’s just a natural.”
He has also emerged from the shadow cast by older brother Cameron, a two-sport star who was the second-leading scorer as the Eagles took fourth place in basketball at state in 2023-24.
Their parents were both tennis players in college.
“It was so competitive with the two of us when we were growing up,” Preston said of Cameron, who’s now playing basketball at Wisconsin-Platteville. “We’d fight all the time.
“I miss him not being around. He’s really the reason why I started playing both sports. I saw him playing and I wanted to play with him.”
Playing at the highest levels in baseball and basketball, Preston is primed for any experience.
“You need such a strong mentality, especially in baseball,” he said. “The game is all mental. When I pitch or out in the field, it doesn’t really matter. You just need that short-term memory.
“You make an error, just forget about it. Scratch it and move on.”
Morel deflects the attention and prefers to be part of a larger collective. It’s his nature.
Even if his talent dictates otherwise.
“I just love hanging out with the guys,” Morel said. “What I’ve taken from them and my brother is just the hard work I’m always putting in.
“I feel like I can’t go a day without going to hit or something like that.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.