Just by her approach in the batter’s box, Lincoln-Way Central sophomore Kayla Doerre looks like a player built for clutch situations.
It’s not an illusion.
“I’m always looking to get it into the holes and get base hits,” Doerre said. “But I would say I have more aggression in me when someone is on base.
“It sparks a fire in me. I’m like, ‘I’ve gotta get this down. This runner is scoring. We’re getting this run.'”
Doerre was no doubt about it Thursday, rallying the Knights past visiting Lincoln-Way West for a 2-1 SouthWest Suburban Red victory in New Lenox.
Bella Dimitrijevic struck out 17 and hit a home run for Lincoln-Way Central (13-4, 8-0). Doerre had two hits, including the game-deciding RBI single.
Reese Rourke struck out seven for Lincoln-Way West (12-7, 4-4). Ava Murphy tripled and Molly Marquardt had a sacrifice fly.
Doerre’s two-out single in the bottom of the sixth inning plated Mia Guide with what would be the winning run.
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It came shortly after Dimitrijevic hit a prodigious first-pitch home run to dead center to lead off the inning. It was quite a response after she allowed a run in the top of the sixth.
“I was really mad,” Dimitrijevic said, laughing. “I was fired up. There was something inside me like a demon.”
Guide followed the home run with a line single and was advanced to second on a sacrifice by Lucy Cameron. Doerre’s single came after a ferocious battle to a 2-2 count.
“She was pitching them all outside to me,” Doerre said. “I finally caught on to it and roped one right through the 5-6 hole. I just prayed that Mia would get home.”
Guide didn’t let her down.
“Kayla always comes up in clutch situations and does stuff like that,” Guide said. “She’ll always get a bunt down when we need it. She’ll always rope one up the middle if we need it or down the line.
“It’s awesome. She always brings energy to practice, too.”
Doerre showed her moxie for the first time as a freshman, when Lincoln-Way Central coach Jeff Tarala arranged a scrimmage between the varsity and JV teams.
“Our JV coach had told us, ‘Hey, this girl can play a little bit,'” Tarala said. “She got up right against Lyndsey Grein and I don’t know what pitch it was. Maybe it was the first pitch. She whacked that ball down the line for a double or a triple, something like that.
“I was like, ‘Holy cow, this girl has no fear getting in the batter’s box against her.'”
Dimitrijevic remembered even more vividly than Tarala.
“It was a rocket right down the third base line and it was a triple,” Dimitrijevic said. “I remember that. It was so great.”
Doerre? She wasn’t quite as confident as she is today. But she was definitely aggressive.
“I was just swinging at everything,” she said, laughing. “I happened to hit one down the line.”
The next practice, Doerre was promoted. She spent the majority of her freshman season on the varsity as a runner and platoon player.
“I was a little nervous,” Doerre said. “But once I got there, it was a very good environment. Everyone was welcoming and let me into stuff. They got me involved.
“It was good. It was just like I was always on the team.”
Doerre has been a mainstay at first base this season for the Knights. She’s batting .367 with 11 runs, two doubles, one homer and five RBIs. She has no errors on defense.
“Kayla has a quick, short swing and she has good speed to get around the bases,” Tarala said. “And she does a really good job bunting.
“Today, she did all facets. A hard hit up the middle, a bunt down the line and the big single. She’s done a good job for us.”