PEORIA — Sometimes, the hits just don’t fall. And they didn’t Friday for Marist junior Lexi Kyros.
But behind the plate, on the state’s biggest stage, the Michigan commit most definitely showed what makes her a top college recruit.
In a span of less than a minute, she threw out one Lincoln-Way West runner at the plate and then nailed another one trying to steal second.
“It gets me super hyped,” Kyros said. “I’ve said it a million times, but as long as I can keep (us) throwing the least amount of pitches possible, the better it is. I want everything for this team.
“As many things as I can do, as many outs as I can get for them, I will.”
Kyros was happy to focus on the positives following Marist’s 2-1 upset loss to Lincoln-Way West in a Class 4A state semifinal game at Louisville Slugger Sports Complex.
Maddie Rogers, Notre Dame recruit Layla Peters and Saint Louis recruit Ellie Holmstrom each had two hits for Marist (36-2). Wisconsin commit Soleil Tate struck out six.
St. Xavier recruit Abby Brueggmann earned the pitching win for the Warriors (29-7), striking out four and stranding eight. St. Ambrose commit Reese Forsythe added a key triple, while NC State recruit Reese Rourke stole home.
Marist will play Oswego (22-12) at 12:15 p.m. Saturday in the third-place game.
It’s not when the RedHawks wanted to play. But it will be where they wanted to end the 2026 season. They lost in the supersectional round last season and didn’t make it to state.
And that hurt.
“So this was very huge getting here,” Kyros said. “We didn’t want anything else but to be here. We wish we were playing for that state championship. But things just didn’t work out for us.”
Indeed, while the RedHawks were far from mystified by Brueggmann, they couldn’t make things happen with runners in scoring position. They scored their only run in the top of the fourth on a double by Holmstrom and an RBI squeeze bunt by Alia Rowles.
On March 30, Marist put on a power show, defeating Lincoln-Way West 11-5 in New Lenox. The wind, however, wasn’t blowing out in Peoria.
“Yeah, if the wind was blowing differently … we could say a million things about going differently,” Kyros said. “But we just left too many girls on base. I didn’t execute when I had to.”
Not exactly true. In the bottom of the third, Lincoln-Way West led 2-0 and had a runner on third with one out. Tate struck out the next batter swinging, but the pitch was wide and got away.
Kyros scrambled to get the ball and made a perfect backhand flip to Tate covering at the plate.
“I practice a million of those, so I know what to do if it ever happens,” Kyros said. “And of course, Soleil did a great job with that.”
The batter reached base. But one pitch later, Kyros threw her out trying to steal second.
Inning over.
“She’s a leader,” Rogers said of Kyros. “She’s a team player. No matter what happens in the game, she’s always there to pick us up. Without her plays back there, it’s a whole different game.
“It’s a harder game. She does whatever she can to help her pitcher.”
Classic Kyros? Typical Kyros, according to Marist coach Colleen Phelan.
“Lexi always has her head in the game,” Phelan said. “She’s ready for that next play. She keeps teams at bay. We’re thankful for the beating she takes there for the team. I’m proud of her. She had her heart in it (Friday). She was battling.”
The battle will continue.
“I think I could have done better in a lot of places,” Kyros said. “I definitely want more for next year. I know I can do more next year.”
Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
