SPRINGFIELD — Worried she was tongue-tied while being interviewed Thursday, Kaylee Schlenker offered to make things easy for a reporter.
“Just make something up, that’s what I did when had to interview somebody for my (mass media) class,” she said kiddingly.
There was no need to make anything up to heighten the drama or overstate the manner in which Schlenker delivered in the clutch for Nixa. The senior third baseman capped the Lady Eagles’ comeback in their 5-3 Class 5 District 6 semifinal victory versus Carthage.
Schlenker drove in three runs with a bases-loaded, line-drive double with two outs in the fourth inning.
She was also plenty quotable while relating her feelings after her hit and her noble role for Nixa.
“There was so much going on. After my hit, I was thinking, ‘I can’t believe that just happened,’” Schlenker said. “Hitting in a timely manner like that, it’s probably the biggest hit I’ve ever had. I was so excited to get us going.”
Coach Matt Walker and her Lady Eagles teammates were excited for her. Schlenker has endeared herself to her teammates the past two seasons by accepting and thriving in a position many players would not welcome.
Schlenker has a .342 batting average going into Saturday’s District final. She’s hitting at a higher clip than five players above her in Nixa’s lineup. Her 25 runs scored are third on the team and she has 20 RBIs. She could easily be hitting cleanup for the Lady Eagles. But as a good bunter with exceptional quickness, she fits the profile Walker likes as almost a second lead-off hitter at the bottom of his lineup.
“I try to do well with that and know I can do my job when needed down there,” Schlenker said. “There are a few times I’ve thought, ‘Man, this sucks.’ But I know if I do my job, the top of the lineup can hit well and if I’m on, I can get around the bases. That’s really all this sport is, do your job and play for your team.”
“She makes jokes about hitting ninth and I know deep down inside of her, it’s hard for her, especially since she’s a senior,” pitcher Maddy Meierer said. “She’s really a team player. I’m so proud of her.”
“I’ve never been prouder of Kaylee,” shortstop Phoebe Gardner added. “I love her. She’s so selfless.”
Walker has made sure to let Schlenker know she’s not being punished by hitting ninth.
“Nobody wants to hit in the nine-hole and I’ve told her, ‘You know I don’t use the nine-hole as a typical nine-hole.’ She says, ‘Yeah, I know,’” Walker said. “She understands and has embraced it by doing a great job. You don’t want someone there who is an automatic out. I want someone there with speed there who can put the ball in play, turn the lineup over and be on base. Our leading RBI hitter is Phoebe in the two-hole. You don’t see that very often. It says a lot about our girls in the eight- and nine-holes.”
Thursday was actually a great day to be hitting ninth. Carthage’s nine-hole hitter, Ashlyn Brust, was 3-for-3.