Franklin's Walker flourishing at Baylor
In many aspects, Baylor's surprising run to the Women's College World Series mirrors that of its leadoff hitter and standout junior outfielder, Kayce Walker. Despite being knocked down, the Lady Bears have continually risen and are on the brink of earning the program's first national championship.
Little was expected from the bunch down in Waco. Baylor received zero votes in the preseason top-25 polls. Likewise, Walker arrived in Waco from little-known Franklin High School, where she was named to the Class 2A All-State team in 2008 while leading the Lions to a district championship.
Despite coming from a small town of just over 1,400 people, Walker's impact during her freshman season in Waco was anything but minute.
In 48 games, she tied the single-season school record for batting with a .413 average, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors. However, her season ended abruptly when she sustained her second torn ACL in three years.
"It really was devastating because I was having the season of my life," Walker said, "and when that happened, I was like 'no, not again.' After my first [ACL tear], I came back so fast. The second one was a lot harder. It just took me a lot longer to get back to things. We made it to regionals and Super Regionals and I had to watch from the sidelines."
Walker bounced back the next season, again earning a spot on the All-Big 12 first team.
And she's kept it up this season, hitting .333 while leading the team in triples. Her 58 hits rank second on the team, but it's her selectiveness at the plate in the leadoff role that has been irreplaceable for a team making only its second appearance on college softball's grandest stage.
"When I'm up to bat, I'm really selective," Walker said. "I don't swing at many pitches outside the zone. If they beat me one time, they won't beat me again. I'm determined. If I don't get on base the first time, I will get on the second time."
That determination and steadfastness has been contagious. Though the team has dug itself a few holes this season, time and again they've climbed out of them.
No hole was bigger than the one the Lady Bears fell into in Athens, Ga., last weekend when Georgia evened their Super Regional series at 1-1 with a 14-2 rout in Game 2. The Lady Bears took it in stride and bounced back in the form of a 9-2 Game 3 victory.
"After we lost that second game, I was thinking, 'We've got to regroup everyone,'" Walker said. "I think everyone at first was kind of nervous. I know a lot of the parents didn't think we were going to be able to come back from that deficit, but we did it."
Despite making it to the big stage and completing her transformation from high school to Big 12 star, Walker hasn't forgotten her roots. As a result, the Baylor bandwagon has added a couple new fans.
"I absolutely love Franklin," she said. "It's so awesome now that so many people from our hometown are watching Baylor softball. There's just so much fan support from that small little town. Everybody has been calling and texting me and calling my parents. I know that no matter what, they'll be cheering me on."
The cheering will rise again at 2:30 p.m. Thursday when the Lady Bears (45-13) battle Oklahoma State (42-18) in the WCWS.
"We've had so much fun," Walker said. "I don't want this year to end because this team gets along so well. We've had just such great chemistry. It's been real incredible."