New Nixa catcher/third baseman Apryl Zeno has come full-circle on her way to circling the bases.
Zeno’s transfer from Bolivar to Nixa last November saw her return to her roots. She played her first three years of high school ball at Bolivar, but had attended Nixa from kindergarten to halfway through her fourth-grade year. She also went to school at Ozark and Strafford.
“It was awkward and nerve wracking,” Zeno said about coming back to Nixa. “Bolivar is a smaller school. Nixa is almost twice the size of Bolivar. Having three stories in the school (building), instead of just one, was a big change for me.”
Zeno is adjusting just fine. The right-handed hitting senior is off to a hot start as a Lady Eagle, hitting a pair of home runs while driving in six runs and hitting at a .375 clip through three games.
Zeno is a softball lifer, but a late bloomer as a power hitter. Her first home run at any level came last October during her junior season as a Lady Liberator. She went on to hit .500 and garner Class 3 All-State honors.
Zeno’s practice habits that have consistently drawn praise from all corners, no matter where she has played, have elevated her to a power hitter.
“I like pushing myself and being the best I can,” she said. “I think getting back in the gym and focusing on Tee work has helped me. Now, I’m more confident in myself.”
One of Zeno’s best friends at Bolivar was pitcher Katie Brooks, now a freshman at Kansas. Likewise, one of Zeno’s best friends at Nixa is pitcher Maddy Meierer. The fact Zeno has formed close relationships with her batterymates is no coincidence.
“I feel like being close to a pitcher stands out compared to everyone else on the team,” she said. “It's good to have that connection to make it easier to trust each other.”
Brooks and Meirerer are both flamethrowers, but Zeno reports their personalities are completely different.
“Katie and I got close my sophomore year and our bond and friendship after that got a lot stronger,” Zeno said. “Maddy is more relaxed and a little more quiet than Katie. Also, with me being a senior and Maddy being an underclassmen, I'm more on the up-go with her. It's been easy for us to have a connection.”
With the addition of Zeno, Nixa coach Matt Walker has the luxury of having two premier catchers to call upon. Kaylee Schlenker, who is off to a .500 start at the plate, is also a capable backstop. Both Schlenker and Zeno have popup times many college catchers would be proud of.
“They're both going to catch and both are going to play third,” Walker said. “It's nice having two solid catchers and they're both solid third basemen, too. We'll be able to exchange them with each other, so they won't have to catch them all.”
