When Karsyn Kasput started playing T-ball as a 3-year-old, she batted last in the lineup.
But that wasn’t a bad thing.
“I was whacking the ball pretty good,” she said. “The coach would bat me last so that I could run around the bases and slide into home after hitting the ball.”
More than 10 years later, she’s still whacking the ball pretty good and is batting cleanup for Beecher’s unbeaten softball team.
The Bobcats freshman outfielder was 4-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs in a 14-6 win over Manteno on May 22 in the Class 2A Manteno Regional final.
Sophomore Carmela Irwin added three hits for Beecher (31-0), which won its fourth straight regional title.
Colgate-bound Taylor Norkus struck out and allowed three earned runs in the win against the Panthers (20-10).
Kasput is hitting .455 with 12 RBIs for a team with a .412 average.
“Getting to play varsity as a freshman and playing with this team — I’m not taking that for granted,” she said.
For the past four years, Kasput has worked with Merrillville (Indiana) hitting coach JR Nolan. Aside from the physical part of hitting, he stressed having a good mindset as well.
“He said that not every hit has to be a grand slam out of the park,” she said. “It matters to get on base, whether it’s a dud hit or the greatest hit you’ve ever had.”
Beecher coach Kevin Hayhurst hasn’t seen too many duds from Kasput as he has coached her on the grade-school level as well.
“She’s really a hungry ballplayer,” Hayhurst said. “She listens well and makes adjustments. For a freshman, that’s a big plus.
“She wants to do well. She’s always asking questions on how she can do better. She’s really a fun kid to have on your team.”
Heading to state
Six Crete-Monee track athletes are headed to the IHSA boys state meet this weekend in Charleston.
At the Class 3A Rich Sectional, Dorian Patterson was third in the long jump at 22 feet, 4.75 inches, while Derrin Couch was third 100 hurdles with a time of 14.95 seconds and sixth in the 300 hurdles with a :40.23.
Jayden Marshall was fourth in the 200 with a :22.12 and Joseph Jones was fifth in the shot with a 52-1.
Patterson, Isaac Graves, Marshall and Isaiah Jordan were third in the 4×200 relay with a 1:29.00.
At the Class 2A Pontiac Sectional, Manteno’s Briggs Cann won the 400 with a :49.80. Nicholas Honkisz was fourth in the 110 hurdles with a :15.33.
The 4×100 relay team of Aden Reiter, Cann, David Skonieczny and Alexsander Lane was third with a :43.41.
At the Class 1A Seneca Sectional, Illinois Lutheran’s Dawveed Holland won the triple jump at 46-3.5, was fifth in the 100 (:11.16), took second in the 300 hurdles (:41.54) and finished third in the long jump (21-10.25).
Peotone’s Adam Murray won the high jump with a 6-0.75 clear.
Beecher’s Wences Baumgartner was second in the high jump at 6-0.75 and third in the triple jump with s 41-5.25.