Keller senior hopes to finally break family state softball ‘curse’

Keller senior shortstop Mikayla McClasky has a chance to finally do something no one in her family has done — make the UIL softball state tournament.

The Indians (27-7) face Lubbock Coronado for the third consecutive year. The Class 6A Region I semifinal series starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Abilene Christian University. Game 2 will be played at 1 p.m. Saturday with a third game to follow if necessary.

For the McClasky family, sisters Mikayla, 18, Jessica, 23, and Courtney, 32, span the past 18 years at Keller — starting in 1999 when Courtney was a freshman.

All three of them took the same path — starting softball at a young age, playing on select teams and having a college career. And sibling rivalry has motivated the two younger sisters.

“For me, I grew up watching Courtney at Keller and always imagined playing for Keller. I couldn’t picture myself with any other school,” said Jessica, who works for F2 video production in Fort Worth. “Wearing that uniform, seeing my name in the paper, I wanted that same exact feeling.”

“There was no doubt they’d play for Keller and it’s been kind of fun to watch them their whole lives,” added Courtney, who lives in Seattle and works with Walsworth Publishing.

But with those heartfelt moments, the competition of siblings also kicked in as they wanted a better career than the others.

“None of us could beat Courtney, but I wanted to always break Jessica’s records,” said Mikayla, who is signed to play at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. “My main goal was to be faster and stronger than her, be a better batter and player overall. I strive to be the best and go the farthest in the playoffs and breaking the curse.”

This curse is one their dad, Jeff, made up during Jessica’s senior year — the McClasky curse — simply because each sister has never been to the state tournament.

“When we lost during my senior year, my dad said ‘It’s the McClasky curse, can’t win state’, and then he said it again last year when Keller lost to Lewisville,” Jessica said.

The Indians lost in three games to Lewisville last season in the regional finals, which remains on Mikayla’s mind.

“We have five mirrors in our locker room and all of them say ‘state bound 2k16’ and we have had that mentality all season,” Mikayla said. “Win district, win each round, game by game, and pitch by pitch. Last season drives me, I still have a bad taste in my mouth.”

If the Indians win the next two rounds, not only will they go back to state for the first time since 2006 — they finished runner-up that year and won state titles in 2003 and 2005 — but it will also finally take a load off the McClasky family.

“I think it would give us a huge sigh of relief. It would give so much excitement for my family,” Mikayla said.

The program is in its 22nd year, has been to the postseason 21 times and won its 600th game this season. The McClasky sisters have been on teams with a combined 309 wins.

“Just shows how long and special the Keller program is and it’s been a cool transition over this 15-year period,” Jessica said.

“Keller has always been a strong, well-respected program,” Courtney added. “Every time they step onto the field, they have a target on their back. Their competitive environment teaches you to be successful.”

Last weekend, Keller’s season was one strike away from ending. The Indians trailed 2-1 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh on Saturday against Plano West in Game 3 before senior Shelby Henderson won the series with a walk-off two-run double.

“After we won on Saturday, I looked at my dad and said you know what, this team is probably one of the most special teams I’ve been a part of in my entire life,” Jessica said. “They’re so fun to watch, so talented and they do unbelievable things and their road isn’t finished.”

This story was originally published May 17, 2016 at 8:11 PM with the headline "Keller senior hopes to finally break family state softball ‘curse’."