NILES — JC Vanek feels right at home playing in front of a few thousand fans under the lights at Eastwood Field.

The 20-year-old Scrappers infielder is at ease working with manager Quinton McCracken and coaches Roosevelt Brown and Ron Mahay, all of who have played in the Big Leagues.

Pressure playing in front of Big League scouts?

Nothing to it.

While playing in a showcase league might offer a wealth of new experiences for some, Vanek has pretty much been there and done that since he was a freshman in high school.

Vanek is a native of Lake Charles, La., where he attended Barbe High School. The public school with closed enrollment, which is home to 2,500 students, is nationally known for its superior baseball program. Its resume includes 12 state titles and four national championships – including two during Vanek’s time at the school.

Lake Charles is managed by former MLB player Glenn Cecchini. Two of his assistants also played professional baseball.

“I grew up watching so many players from my hometown go on to play at elite college programs,” Vanek said. “When I went into high school, I saw so many of my older teammates completely driven to reach the next level, whether it was college or pro ball.

“Playing at Barbe is really difficult to explain. We play at a multi-million dollar complex. Our locker room is as nice as anything I’ve seen. It’s comparable to Major League locker rooms. Playing at Barbe was comparable to playing in the Draft League, only it was high school. It was crazy.”

Vanek was part of a national championship team during his sophomore season, and again as a senior in 2023. For the past two years he attended Chipola (Fla.) Junior College. As a freshman he batted .360. This past spring in 50 games Vanek hit .395 with nine home runs, 53 RBI and 50 runs scored.

Vanek earned an associate degree in sports management. He recently entered the transfer portal and will continue his education and playing career at Florida State.

“Playing at Barbe totally prepped me for college in every way,” Vanek said. “Just from a playing perspective, I was totally prepared for what lay ahead once I graduated high school. Beyond that, I learned so many life lessons along the way from some of the best coaches in the country.”

While listed as an infielder who primarily plays first base, Vanek said his high school experience also made him a versatile player.

“I feel like I can play the outfield just as well as the infield,” Vanek said. “In high school, I was competing for playing time against 15 or 20 players who were signed to Division I schools. That’s a game-changer in terms of teaching yourself to be able to play multiple positions.”

Vanek’s goal is to have a prolonged playing career beyond college. Even when his playing days are over, he expects to remain in the game in some capacity.

“Whether it is a sports agency or sports medicine, I want baseball to always be a part of my life,” Vanek said. “Once I’m done playing, I want to give back to the younger players.”