WINDERMERE, Fla. — Windermere senior pitcher Lexi King has been described as ‘one of the hardest working athletes’ her coach Eileen Hannigan has ever met.
She drives across the state multiple times per week to work with an elite pitching coach, as well as works on her game on family vacations. All that hard work is set to pay off at the next level.
At a young age, Lexi unlocked her potential when she put a glove and a softball in her hand.
“When I first started, I kind of played everything, but I realized like I like to pitch with my dad and I just kind of got like better and better at it, and we just practice every day,” she said.
Childhood memories of pitching with her dad turned into a habit that has spanned years, making her into the player she is now.
“She pitches on her own every day,” said coach Hannigan. “I mean, her mom talked to me about when they go on cruises, her dad brings full equipment, brings his catcher’s gear, she takes her stuff on vacation. She’s still putting in that effort. But there’s just this passion to it when she’s out there that it’s effortless.”
When she was in 6th grade at Windermere Prep, Lexi made the varsity softball team.
“It really helped me grow up, and it also helped me overcome a lot of fears and like, I was just kind of playing it for fun because I knew like I was only a sixth grader,” said King. “So I got to test the limits to how I could grow.”
Her coach says the early experience has benefitted Lexi in the long-run.
“When you have the opportunity to play with older players and you learn how to handle things (...) once you become that older player (...) you’re much more comfortable with that role,” said Hannigan. “And I think any opportunity you get to be around more development only helps your game. And she definitely has every year just grown even a little bit more. And I know it’s going to help her limitlessly when she gets to that next level.”
As a senior with Windermere High, Lexi has become a comfortable leader on the mound while working with her teammates.
“I’m a down ball pitcher, so I get a lot of ground balls and I feel like it’s really beneficial because I don’t have to throw as many pitches and I can cross my defense to make a lot of plays. I’ve been working on a rise,” said King. “As a pitcher, I feel like it’s really important to be a positive leader because the whole infield is looking at you, you’re kind of the rock on the team to make sure that you’re settling everyone at all times.”
Lexi will take her hype and talents to a competitive SEC next year, committed to a top 25 program at Arkansas.
“I thought it was a perfect fit for me. The coaches, the campus there and the team just has a family bond and everyone gets along so easily,” said King. “And I just got really welcoming and like when you know, you know.”