May 13, 2005

Ding, dong, the rumor's dead

Hard work gave Clay homer crown

Jackie Lawrence, left, and Alexia Clay have made a significant impact on the Culver Academies softball program. Tribune Photo/JIM RIDER

On Preps

By AL LESAR

CULVER -- Rumblings through the area high school softball world have tried to downgrade the accomplishments of Alexia Clay.

Now, it's time to debunk a myth and give a slugger her due.

Rumor had it that Culver Academies has installed a short, temporary fence on its softball field in order to help Clay, a junior catcher for the Eagles, become the state's all-time home run queen.

The fence is temporary all right, arriving around the turn of this century, but it's definitely not short. Down the lines it's 76 paces (about 230 feet), and it's 78 paces to center (about 235 feet) -- very comparable to most high school fields.

That means, those home runs hit at home among her three-year career total of 26 --three beyond the state record-- were legitimate. Clay isn't a fluke-- she's really that good.

"Everything Lex has gotten, she's worked for,'' Culver Academies softball coach Jen Mascari said. "Her work ethic is the thing that makes her special.''

What makes Culver Academies, one of the state's top Class 3-A teams all season, special is its battery of Clay and pitcher Jackie Lawrence.

Clay grew up in Rochester, coached by her dad Kim since she was old enough to swing-- even on a 3-0 pitch. Lawrence was raised in Indianapolis. The two crossed paths playing on the Indiana Magic 12-under and 14-under summer travel teams.

According to Clay, a straight-A student through middle school who has 20-10 vision, she became concerned when Rochester schools considered going to a pass-fail grading system. She and her parents looked for an alternative, and Culver Academies was the choice. During Plymouth's Blueberry Festival tournament several years ago, Clay's parents told Lawrence's about their daughter's plans and the two came as a package deal.

"I don't think I'd be here without Lex,'' said Lawrence, who has gotten the decision in each of the 21 games (19 wins) the Eagles have played this season. "I'm grateful I came. The academic skills I've developed since coming here --time management, leadership and ethical decisions -- will help in whatever I do in life.

"The competition we've had in softball has been great. Having Lex here makes it a lot of fun.''

Competition has fueled Clay's desire to succeed since she started to play softball in the third grade.

"When I first started, we lost the catcher on our team because they moved her up to the next level,'' Clay said. "My dad, who's always been my coach, said, 'Grab the equipment, you're catching.' I was scared at first, but now I wouldn't want to play anywhere else.''

Clay, who is confident and athletic with a mediator's personality, is suited perfectly for the position. She relishes the opportunity to run the show. As a hitter, her dad has been a significant influence.

"When I was little, my dad asked me if I wanted to be good at the game,'' Clay said. "When I said I did, he went a little nutso. When I was younger, I'd hit between 500 and 800 pitches a day six days a week. We'd drive to Indianapolis (from Rochester) four days a week just to hit. After eighth grade, I was hitting about 400 pitches a day. Now, it's down to between 200 and 400, so I don't get hurt.

"My life from fourth to eighth grade was school, softball and Nintendo.''

Clay's parents, who own Clay's Carpet and Furniture in Rochester, got tired of the drive, so they built an indoor hitting facility at Rochester.

"Anybody who works at it can be a good hitter,'' Clay said. "If you work hard enough to become a good hitter, and have a little potential ....''

Clay didn't hit her first home run over the fence until she was in seventh grade. She didn't become a home-run threat until she was a freshman.

"My body matured, and with all the work, I started being able to hit home runs all of a sudden,'' Clay said. "Sometimes I'm surprised that a ball I'd hit goes over the fence.''

"Neither Lex nor Jackie will ever brag about what they accomplished,'' Mascari said. "Lex is a type-A personality who is a perfectionist. I look at her and say, 'If I would have worked as hard as she's worked...'''

The work's about to pay off for both of them. Besides the success they anticipate in the future at Culver Academies, both are being courted by Division I colleges. Clay said her confidential top 10 list includes teams that are all among the top 20 programs in the country. Likewise, Lawrence isn't tipping her hand on the future.

"Wherever they go, they'll make an impact in the program,'' Mascari said. "They have everything a coach would want.''

A state home-run record and 60 mph pinpoint fastball are welcome additions at any level.