Every Friday, Tinley Park’s Kristin Kavalauskas spends three hours helping take care of the dogs at the local P.A.W.S.
“I got my puppy from there four years ago,” Kavalauskas said. “When I walked in I was like, ‘I want to work here.’ As soon as I turned 14, I signed up.
“It puts a smile on my face to know that these dogs are getting cared for and not left alone.”
Kavalauskas, a Lewis recruit, is the top dog in the batting order for Tinley Park (2-1). Through three games, the junior shortstop is batting .636 (7-for-11) with two doubles, a triple, a home run and five RBIs.
She is also a guiding light for this year’s group of mostly young players.
Titans coach Wendy Podbielniak graduated six seniors from last year’s team, which won 24 games and was the South Suburban Blue champion.
The 2017 roster includes six freshmen — more than enough to keep Kavalauskas busy as a leader.
“She’s big sister, no doubt,” Podbielniak said. “She’s super good with the kids, super positive. They’re just learning so much and I’m sure it’s frustrating for them, but she keeps them very focused, very positive.”
The night before a recent game, Kavalauskas hosted a team dinner at her home.
“We’re going to be starting conference play and I wanted to get everyone together,” she said. “We had some pasta, had a little fun. I think it’ll bring our team closer.”
Kavalauskas earned all-area honors last season, hitting .528 with five home runs, 35 RBIs and 32 runs. She has power to all fields, but Podbielniak plans to move her from the third spot to the top of the batting order.
“I’m both excited and nervous about it,” Kavalauskas said. “My job as the three hitter was to move the hitters from the first and second hole and get them in. Now, I guess it’ll be the second, third and fourth hitters who move me over.”
Strong soph: Andrew’s Maggie Bailey had a day to remember Saturday in the Celtic Invitational at Providence.
Bailey, a sophomore first baseman/catcher, was 7-for-9 with five RBIs as the Thunderbolts lost to Lockport 12-11 in the semifinals and beat Providence 8-2 in the third-place game.
Through seven games, Bailey is hitting .481 with a team-leading 10 RBIs out of the middle of the order.
“Maggie has been hitting the ball really well, been very consistent at the plate,” Andrew coach Matt Fish said. “She can hit the ball really hard and has been solid for us in the field. She works hard — a big, strong kid who gets the job done for us.”
Bailey is the younger sister of former Andrew outfielder Abbie Bailey, who graduated in 2016.
“She is a totally different player than Abbie,” Fish said. “Abbie was more of a slapper, while Maggie possesses a lot of power. She is one of those players that when she goes up there, you know she is going to do something good.”
Travel time: Last season, Evergreen Park lost an entire spring break worth of games due to weather conditions. Mustangs coach Michelle Vucsko does not plan on it happening again.
On April 21 and 22, Evergreen Park will compete in the Franklin County Capital City Showcase in Frankfort, Ky.
“This has been in the works since last year,” Vucsko said. “We’ve been talking about wanting to go somewhere over spring break. I think will be a good experience for the girls, and also a chance to get into some better weather.
“We wanted to make sure we did something more memorable this year.”
The Mustangs (1-1) have seven returning starters, including junior pitcher Kelly Farmer. In two games, Farmer has one pitching victory and is hitting .500 with four RBIs.
Twitter @tbaranek
TOP 10
Won-loss records included through Sunday, with last week’s rankings in parentheses.
1. Marist 4-0 (1)
2. Lincoln-Way East 6-0 (2)
3. Lockport 7-0 (5)
4. Lincoln-Way Central 3-1 (3)
5. Sandburg 4-4 (4)
6. Mother McAuley 3-2 (6)
7. Marian Catholic 4-2 (NR)
8. Tinley Park 2-1 (8)
9. Beecher 4-1 (7)
10. Richards 2-1 (NR)
Player of the Week: Senior outfielder Sidney Bloomfield went 8-for-14 with two doubles and a triple as Lincoln-Way East won five games without a loss.
