It’s almost as if MaKayla Van Vossen has been making up for lost time, even if there wasn’t much she missed.
The Lake Central freshman didn’t begin the season as the starting second baseman. But by early April, she had taken over the position.
Van Vossen has played at a high level ever since, leading the Duneland Athletic Conference champion Indians in hitting.
“I knew coming into this that I had to work to get the position that I wanted. … I worked my butt off to get where I was,” Van Vossen said. “I work every day as much as I can, practice everything.”
“I’ve helped the team a lot. I stay positive no matter what and help the team with whatever I can.”
Van Vossen continued to help Lake Central on Monday in a nonconference game against visiting Chicago Marist, a perennial power ranked No. 1 in the Illinois Class 4A state coaches poll.
The Indians, ranked No. 10 in the Indiana Class 4A state coaches poll, lost 6-4 in eight innings. But Van Vossen was instrumental as they rallied back from a 4-0 deficit in a game that should aid their preparation for the postseason, which begins next week.
Batting cleanup against Marist (24-2), Van Vossen laced a triple to score Lake Central’s first run in a two-run sixth inning. After turning a 6-4-3 double play with the bases loaded to end the top of the seventh, she contributed an infield hit as Lake Central (20-4-1, 13-0) tied the game in the bottom of the inning.
“We came together as a team,” Van Vossen said. “Even when we were down, we were very good in the dugout, very positive and cheerful. Everyone was helping each other. Everyone had each other’s backs. Even if people got out, they came back and did what they needed. And that’s part of the team. For instance, I struck out twice, and then I came out here and helped us tie the game.
“I forget about my past at-bats. I do remember the pitches, and I remember what I did, and I made adjustments and I slapped instead of hitting. I did what I needed to do to help the team to get the runs in.”
Lake Central coach Brooke Baker-Runyon wasn’t surprised. Van Vossen was hitting a team-high .577 with two homers, 29 RBIs and 12 stolen bases going into a game against LaPorte on Tuesday.
“What I like about MaKayla, MaKayla’s a gamer,” Baker-Runyon said. “When I was putting the batting order together, putting the lineup together, she rises to the occasion. I’m not saying all the time because it’s hard to do that all the time. But she definitely likes those big games. And you play a team like Marist, that’s who you have to put in the lineup.
“She’s young, 14 or 15, playing with 18-year-olds, but she has a strong mind. She’s mentally tough. She wants to be in those big situations, and that’s what separates MaKayla from a lot of people.”
Sophomore catcher Izzy Calinski has seen Van Vossen’s difference-making ability over the years. They’ve played travel ball together in the past.
“MaKayla’s really showing out this year,” Calinski said. “I’ve known MaKayla for a while, and she works really hard. She’s a good player. She knows the game very well. I know she has my back at second. She can really get anything — her range is amazing. Her bat is absolutely crushing it.
“She’s doing really good on the field, and she’s a positive force in the dugout.”
Van Vossen has taken nothing for granted.
“I expected to sit the first couple of games,” she said. “But I knew since I’m such a hard worker in what I do that I eventually was going to get my way in there. I love my teammates, and I always support them no matter what. Even if I didn’t have the spot, I would still support them. But I worked my butt off to get there, and I ended up there, and I’m going to try to keep my spot.”