In a sense, this season has been a bonus for Lake Central’s Izzy Calinski.
The sophomore catcher had surgery in October after tearing the ACL in her right knee doing outfield drills during fall workouts. Calinski was medically released as tryouts and preseason practice began in early March after missing the fall travel season and winter training.
“We knew it was pushing it for her to be here for this spring, and here she is,” Lake Central coach Brooke Baker-Runyon said. “And she’s killing it.
“She was way ahead of all of her measurables and everything. She’s a very hard worker. She’s mentally just a strong kid. Mentally, physically, she’s a strong kid. She worked her butt off to get back on the field.”
Calinski has made the most of it. She’s hitting .458 with four homers — tied for the team lead with classmate Taylor Schafer — and 27 RBIs as the postseason begins for Lake Central (24-4-1), which is ranked No. 10 in the Class 4A state coaches poll.
“Going into the season, I was playing super loose,” she said. “I really didn’t have much to lose. Coming off the ACL injury, it was liberating to step onto the field and finally get some swings in, some hacks. So I was playing completely loose.”
Calinski hit .379 with 11 RBIs in 29 at-bats last season as a freshman, getting a bit less time than then-senior Paige Reitz. It didn’t take long for Calinski to establish herself as a front-line player.
“We have a lot of very good players,” Baker-Runyon said. “You look at our team, no one’s flashy, no one’s a loud and in-your-face player. They’re just good players who work hard and get the job done. So that’s Izzy, and that’s what I love the most about her and our team.
“She’s a leader. We’re trying to get her to be more vocal. But she’s definitely a leader by example. Just a great kid.”
Freshman second baseman MaKayla Van Vossen appreciates Calinski’s approach and demeanor.
“Me and Izzy are very, very similar,” Van Vossen said. “She’s a great teammate to me. She’s always positive. Even if she makes an error, strikes out, anything, she smiles and she’s always positive. She’ll always have my back, and I know that.
“She’s an amazing catcher. Her throw-downs are amazing. She’s very smart back there. Her hitting is also so good — so amazing with her hitting too. And she’s going to continue doing all of that because she’s such a hard worker. She works as hard as I do. She makes sure she keeps that spot.”
Calinski has drawn motivation from her sister Mackenzie, a junior outfielder.
“She’s a big push for me,” Izzy Calinski said. “She drives me to do my best every single time. She’s always cheering for me. When I get a home run, she’s the first person to give me a high-five. We both share our successes. The drive to want to play and be successful, and obviously her too, she pushes me to do better. And she kind of keeps me in check.”
Lake Central plays East Chicago Central in the first round of the Merrillville Sectional on Tuesday.
“We’re feeling really good right now,” Calinski said. “We’re all just jelling right now. Everything is working.”
