MERRILLVILLE | Ask Savy Kinsella to talk about herself, and she may get a little nervous.
Ask her to talk about her Andrean softball team, and she could probably go on for hours.
"I realize that it's not just about one person," the second baseman said, "it's about the whole team."
But the leadoff hitter's .320 average (fourth on team), 12 doubles (tied for first) and 34 runs scored (second) have certainly played a big part in getting Andrean back to its second consecutive Class 3A state championship game.
"She doesn't get as much credit as she definitely deserves," Andrean coach Brooke Baker-Runyon said. "I'm proud of her for the fact that she's been able to not worry about that sort of stuff. She just plays for the love of the game."
Kinsella will take that love to Indianapolis on Saturday as her 59ers (27-4) take on Edgewood (21-11) at Ben Davis High School to try to win their third state title.
Kinsella started her playing career at Andrean just one year after the 59ers fell short in the 2009 championship game to New Palestine. As a starting freshman at second base, she was surrounded by older talent.
"It was a big place to fill because I had Meghan Bridgeman at first, Audrey (Bickel) at short, Morgan Moseley at third, Alyssa Moseley pitching and Kelly Ryan catching," Kinsella said. "So they were all older than me. And I was really scared because Alyssa Moseley was a little intimidating at times."
But her double-play partner, Bickel, wasn't intimidating. In fact, she turned out to be one of Kinsella's biggest idols.
And also the person who taught her to be the team player she is today.
"Audrey, I just remember always being there for me," Kinsella said. "She's the most humble player I've ever played with also, and I think that's shaped me a lot because I don't think about myself when we're playing.
"I try to think about what's best for the team completely, and Audrey was exactly the same way."
Kinsella takes her team concept so seriously, she refuses to look at her individual stats in the middle of the season
So the junior didn't even know she has more walks (9) than strikeouts (8) this year.
"I honestly just hate striking out," Kinsella said. "It's my least favorite thing."
That's the closest you'll get to Kinsella talking about herself.
"She's not here for the starlight or for her name to be in the paper," Baker-Runyon said. "She's here because she just loves to play and loves to do well and help her friends and teammates out."
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