Lowell’s Kaylee Meeks has been ready for this stage.
The junior right-hander has assumed the mantle as the Red Devils’ No. 1 pitcher, and the responsibility hasn’t overwhelmed her by any stretch.
“I’ve always had a high standard for myself, and I’ve worked super hard for this moment,” Meeks said. “That helps me a lot. I practice a lot, and it really shows up.
“Softball is my life.”
Lowell coach Mike McLindon, who watched Meeks shut out Kankakee Valley on Tuesday, knows full well her single-mindedness about the sport.
“She’s a competitor,” McLindon said. “She’s probably the hardest worker on the entire roster. The kid eats and sleeps softball. If she’s not working with us, she’s working on her own. The kid wants it. She’s hungry for it.”
Then-senior Carlye Walter was Lowell’s ace last season, and Meeks exhibited patience and realistic expectations while making a significant impact offensively. She batted .371 with a team-high four home runs, primarily as an outfielder and designated player.
“She hit really well for us,” McLindon said. “She just continued to progress. She’s just so hungry for it, and she works so hard. I’m just so glad and proud of her to see it all pay off.”
Walter, who was selected as a North All-Star last season, went 12-4 with a 1.80 ERA as Lowell had a strong second-place finish in the Northwest Crossroads Conference. Meeks went 3-3 with a 5.37 ERA.
“I knew Carlye was here, and I was super supportive of Carlye,” Meeks said. “But I knew she was a little bit ahead of me, so that pushed me a lot. She helped me through last year, and this year I’m a lot more confident.
“When McLindon told me this was my time and I’m the ace this year, it really made me think that I need to shine when I go out there. I just have to have that mindset, and that helps me get more confident.”
After holding her own in a season-opening loss to powerful Lake Central on Monday, Meeks came right back to throw a gem in a conference game at Kankakee Valley. She allowed three hits and a walk and struck out nine in Lowell’s 2-0 win.
“Lake Central is really tough one to nine,” McLindon said. “To come back the next day in a big conference game and put a goose egg up, that’s huge for us.
“Last year she was the No. 2, and she kind of bided her time. We threw her in here and there. She was phenomenal (Tuesday), and we expect really big things from her this season.”
So, too, does Lowell senior second baseman Braelyn Carter.
“She’s really grown from last season,” Carter said of Meeks. “She’s a really good teammate, picks you up, helps you out. She has the defense’s back, and the defense has her back. She’s really stepped up into that role.”
Meeks said her pitches had a lot of spin against the Kougars, and she demonstrated an ability to change speeds and hit the corners.
“Last year I focused on more of my speed, and I learned that movement helps you more than speed,” she said. “When I put an emphasis on that, it really helped.
“Since last season, I just started working a lot harder because I want to do really good this year. I’m really focused.”