Austin Kelly, the Planters Bank Player of the Week, had just hit a grand slam Monday night, but after he got back to the dugout you would have hardly known it.
Kelly calmly put his catcher’s gear back on, looked back onto the field and prepared to play defense. He then said, “I was just trying to make a good swing and not do too much.”
Kelly’s attitude of trying to treat every at bat the same is paying off in droves. A day after his grand slam on Monday (his third grand slam of the season), Kelly hit another three-run home in the first inning of the Generals’ blow out victory over Cleveland Central.
Kelly’s prodigious batting has been happening all season. He currently has a .475 batting average and has driven in 35 runs.
Kelly is also an excellent catcher. On Monday night during his team’s victory over Riverside, Kelly quick threw a ball to first base, prompting the Riverside runner on third base to quip, “This catcher has got a cannon for an arm.”
Coaches at the next level spotted Kelly’s talent long ago. Kelly has signed a scholarship to play baseball at Mississippi State University in Starkville.
At a recent game at Washington School, Mississippi State baseball coach Chris Lemonis said he expects Kelly to be a great addition to his program.
But, before next season, Kelly hopes to help lead his team to championship. Along with other talented stars, like Tri Vaughan, Washington Coach Hunter Palasini said he believes his team has the ability to go far.
“Austin is a great player, and he stays patient at the plate,” Coach Palasini said. “He usually will never beat himself.”
