How softball helped turn Kasson-Mantorville star into a Division I baseball player

Apr. 28—KASSON — Long before Grady Babcock developed into a star pitcher and shortstop, he got his start behind the plate, catching for his older sister, Ella, a former softball player for Kasson-Mantorville.

The K-M senior, who will play Division I college baseball for Butler University, was introduced to the sport by his parents, former college athletes who both played slow-pitch softball when he was growing up. His dad played baseball in high school and at Rochester Community and Technical College, while his mom played softball at Winona State University.

"They got me into it at a really young age," Babcock said. "I've always been around the game of baseball and softball, and I found my passion for it at a young age, and they just kept helping me progress, put the time and work and money into me. Just basically betting on me to succeed and setting me up for success ... and just helping me take the next steps in my baseball career that I've been wanting to."

Ella, Babcock's only sibling, was a three-sport athlete in high school but opted not to play sports in college at Grand Canyon University, from which she graduated on Thursday.

"She was a pitcher, so I caught for her quite a bit," Babcock said. "So I think just getting more reps behind the plate, because I grew up as a catcher, I just transitioned into a shortstop the last couple of years. So I think having somebody in the same household that always needed to throw as well just helped me stay in the game, even when I wasn't having games or practices."

The KoMets hold a 5-4 (5-2 Hiawatha Valley League) overall record after an 8-2 loss to Cannon Falls on Friday, during which Babcock struck out eight batters and walked three while allowing five hits and five runs across five innings pitched. Babcock faced off against Cannon Falls pitcher and University of Minnesota commit Ryan Hjellming, who threw nine strikeouts in the Bombers' win.

"I really enjoy it. I really think it makes us challenge each other as well," Babcock said. "When I'm on the mound facing Ryan, when Ryan's on the mound facing me, I think everybody does lock in that much more. Because, I mean, we're both really good players, and just have to put balls in play."

After a strong start to the season, Babcock admits the KoMets have slowed down a bit, but knows what they need to do to bounce back.

"We just haven't been scoring enough runs and getting enough hits on the board to really win games recently," Babcock said. "We've just been waiting too long to get punched in the mouth before we start responding and putting runs up and working better at-bats. So I think just showing up ready to go right away, bring the energy, because I mean, our pitchers have been doing their job. Just apply the pressure and just continue showing up ready to play and ready to punch first every game."

This is one of the better starts for a KoMets baseball team in recent history, Babcock said.

"We have a lot more team-first guys," Babcock said. "(On the first day of practice) it just seemed like everybody wanted the team to succeed, and they didn't care what their role was on the team. They just wanted to help them compete and help put W's up. ... So I just think we have a lot of unselfish guys that are just ready to go whenever we need them."