It’s not as if Madisen Tucker had zero experience at first base.
The Lake Central senior plays the position for her travel team, although she’s still primarily a pitcher.
But first base has been a different spot for her with the Indians this season after three in the circle.
“I’m pretty comfortable at it,” Tucker said.
Coach Jeff Sherman expressed confidence in Tucker as Lake Central (27-4) prepared to play Penn (21-6) at 10 a.m. Saturday in the semifinals of the Class 4A West Lafayette Harrison Semistate.
“She’s just been incredible over there,” Sherman said of Tucker. “It’s not a brand-new position, but I don’t think she ever considered herself a full-time first baseman. I don’t know that I’ve seen too many this season who have been better than her over there.”
As a freshman in 2015, Tucker was the No. 2 pitcher as Lake Central finished as the state runner-up. She went 8-2 with a 2.44 ERA in 14 games.
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In 2016, she led the team in games with 19 and innings with 71 2/3, going 8-3 with a 1.66 ERA.
Last season, she was the team’s No. 3 pitcher, going 4-1 with a 2.50 ERA in nine games.
“After her freshman year, there was a lot of thought on both Madisen’s end and our end she was going to be a kid who threw a lot in the next three years,” Sherman said. “It didn’t end up working out that way, but it’s not because of her ability because that kid can pitch for anybody, including our team.
“We’ve just had a situation where a kid has gotten hot and we’ve gone with that. To Madisen’s credit, she saw an opportunity that we had an opening at first base and she ran away with it.”
Indeed, Tucker’s production, senior Alexa Pinarski’s performance and Alex Hickey’s graduation resulted in the scenario.
Pinarski emerged as one of five finalists for Miss Softball, and Hickey recently completed her freshman season at Bryant after setting Lake Central’s program record for career homers.
This season, Tucker has hit .355 (27-for-76) with a home run, eight doubles, 18 RBIs and 18 runs. She hit .303 (10-for-33) in her first three seasons combined. Her only pitching appearance this season was a two-inning stint on April 2 against Lowell.
“Alex Hickey was there for a long time and she did really well, so I’m just glad I’ve been able to step up,” Tucker said. “I enjoy playing first base a lot because you’re involved in a lot of the plays. I like being able to back up ‘Lex’ (Pinarski) — she’s been pitching really well.”
In his mind, Sherman had several options at first base, with Tucker in that mix. It didn’t take her long to earn the job.
“The moment our season started, she separated herself and that was the end of it,” Sherman said. “She played so well, she took it upon herself, and I could not be more proud of her for seizing that opportunity.
“Madisen wants to pitch — don’t get me wrong. But she never hung her head. She never once let herself get mentally out of it just because she’s not in the circle. She stayed strong physically and mentally.”
Tucker, who has continued her workouts at home, signed as a pitcher with St. Francis in Joliet, Ill. She plans to study biochemistry, intending to become an optometrist.
“She’s a great kid,” Sherman said. “We never know how things are going to shake out — they shake out a certain way and it’s not how we expect. She’s done really well. I’m just ecstatic for that kid.”