The book on Lincoln-Way Central junior Sarah Kmak says that she’s a contact hitter with a short swing who consistently puts the ball in play.
She’s also literally short. There are no pages about the 5-foot-3 outfielder being a power hitter.
Maybe there needs to be. Kmak has cleared the fence once already this season — against powerhouse Marist, no less.
“My first varsity home run,” Kmak said, smiling. “My last one was probably in 11U ball. Usually I’m an on-base hitter, and hit line drives and balls on the ground.”
She made very effective contact Tuesday for the Knights in a 5-2 victory over host Lincoln-Way East in SouthWest Suburban Conference crossover in Frankfort.
Sophomore right-hander Bella Dimitrijevic struck out 11 and had two hits for Lincoln-Way Central (6-3, 3-0). Kmak doubled, scored and hit a sacrifice fly. Josephine Jager contributed two hits.
Aubrey O’Neil was 3-for-3 with an RBI for Lincoln-Way East (7-2, 2-1). Maddie Henry added an RBI single.
Kmak was a rally starter for the Knights, leading off the top of the second inning with a double. She came around to score their first run on a single by Kendall Pearson.
In the third inning, Kmak followed an RBI single by Lucy Cameron with a sacrifice fly to deep center.
“I just have to help us score, do whatever I can,” Kmak said. “This is a team effort, so I want to help those kids on base score.
“This was such a big rivalry game. I really wanted to win. I know a lot of girls on that team, and I wanted to come out here and get it done.”
Making the varsity for Kmak this season was effectively a reunion for herself and Cameron.
“We’ve played together since Pinto ball,” Cameron said. “Sarah knows how to hit the ball where it’s very needed. And she always has a smile. She’s a good teammate.
“When Sarah was called up, I told her, ‘Just be yourself. Yeah, you have big shoes to fill, but you’re also your own player. So make your statement yourself.’ She’s doing a great job.”
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Kmak is hitting .333 with six runs and two doubles. She has also played errorless ball on defense.
Now that’s following sound advice.
“Oh, Lucy was a big help for me,” Kmak said. “She has been on varsity every year so far, and I’ve played with her since forever. We’ve been great friends. She’s such a great teammate and a really great player. I just love playing with her.”
Sarah is the third Kmak to play for Lincoln-Way Central, following older sisters Grace and Kayley. Grace, a sophomore at Saint Louis, is hitting .273 with 11 runs and three RBIs.
“I talk with Grace a lot,” Kmak said. “Sometimes, I get to go down there and watch. Last season, she played outfield and I saw her when she had a really good game.
“They were both great players. It’s a big challenge trying to be as good as them, trying to keep up with being a Kmak.”
Sarah Kmak’s home run against Marist didn’t surprise Lincoln-Way Central coach Jeff Tarala at all. He has seen it before.
“All of the Kmak girls had that ability to hit the ball out of the park,” Tarala said. “It’s simply because against the better pitchers that throw harder, they are so short and to the ball that they can generate power.
“Sarah has really done an incredible job. She’s so fundamentally sound. She’s been one of our most steady hitters, a huge part of our offense here in the early going. I don’t know where we’d be without her.”