Kim and Jon Ackley have traveled across the country to watch the Northwestern baseball team (9-15, 2-5 Big Ten) and their son Brandon the past two seasons. But this weekend, the Ackleys will only have to make a 45-minute trip from their home in Carmel, Ind., to watch NU’s series with Purdue (13-15, 5-3) in West Lafayette, Ind.
Brandon’s father and step-mother have trekked to every weekend series this year, watching the junior right fielder develop into one of NU’s best players.
“We’ve traveled to Phoenix, Albuquerque, Homestead, St. Louis, and Columbus this year,” Jon said. “It’s been great watching Brandon this year, and I have never seen him have more confidence on or off the field.”
Ackley has reason to hold his head high after his recent success at the plate. The junior has hit the ball hard over the past four games, going 6-for-14 in that stretch.
The hot streak could be the result of a change Ackley made during the March road series in St. Louis. Following the advice of NU coach Paul Stevens, he decided to widen his stance and quicken his swing.
“We make a lot of suggestions, but the players are the ones that have to implement it,” Stevens said. “Brandon has done a great job, and a lot of it has to do with his attitude and work ethic.”
Ackley dedicated his summer to baseball, attending the state-of-the-art IMG Baseball Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Ackley focused on becoming a better baseball player at the United States’ only full-time baseball institute, which is also the facility where Boston Red Sox star Nomar Garciaparra spends his off-season.
Besides playing three or four games a week, Ackley endured a grueling daily regimen designed to improve his skills, flexibility and strength.
Ackley’s weightlifting has not gone unnoticed by his teammates.
“We all give him shit because he’s in the Big Guns Club in the weightroom,” catcher Ken Padgett said.
Ackley is the only baseball player in the club, which admits members based on the size of their biceps and is composed mostly of NU football players.
The extra muscle on Ackley’s 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame has made him a threat to go deep. His three home runs this season have already surpassed his total for the past two years.
Ackley’s two stolen bases in Tuesday’s triumph over Valparaiso showed that the slugger added more speed to his arsenal. But Ackley said he still feels his power is the key.
“I’m not in the lineup to hit singles,” Ackley said. “He puts me in the lineup to hit doubles and hit for power — that’s why I’m here.”
Ackley is at NU after being named to Indiana’s All-State team his senior year of high school. While Ackley left the Crossroads of America for Evanston, his old teammate Brad Kriner stayed close to home.
Kriner is the third basemen for the Boilermakers and played with Ackley on the Indiana Bulls AAU team. Ackley and Kriner may be rivals this weekend, but the two friends still talk.
“It was neat to see him go to another Big Ten school,” Ackley said. “Whenever you play against old teammates you want to win so you have bragging rights.”
Kriner currently holds the advantage over his old teammate after Purdue swept the four-game series last year at Rocky Miller Park.
The Cats struggled against the Boilermakers in 2001, but Ackley made a personal statement. In Game 3 of that series, Ackley went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs.
Ackley has played his best against teams from his home state. As a freshman, he had six hits in a four-game series at Indiana.
“This isn’t a normal road trip or Big Ten series for me,” Ackley said. “This is a homecoming and I kinda have a chip on my shoulder and something to prove. I want to show everybody who I used to play with and know that I deserve to be where I’m at.”
Ackley might have something to prove in his old state, but he already has the respect of his teammates. The Cats know Ackley’s bat will be a key factor this weekend when they try to get back in the Big Ten race.
And if Ackley needs any guidance, he’ll know where to find it.
“(My dad) is always the first one to give me advice, if I want it or not,” Ackley said. “It’s nice to have your dad there, knowing he cares and making the effort to come. Trying to make him proud is one of my goals.”
Brandon does not need to worry about impressing his parents this weekend because they go to more than just the home games. Jon and Kim will be at their son’s game next weekend, and every weekend after that for the rest of the season — except the Illinois series.
“You’ve got to do work sometimes,” Jon said.
