ND's Glaus stays calm under fire

~ Notre Dame catcher Alecia Glaus knows how to handle pitches, and her ace

Notre Dame pitching ace Lauren Reinagel says catcher Alecia Glaus isn't funny.

She's all business when she strolls out to the circle for a chat during games.

"I try to stay focused for her and the rest of the team," Glaus said.

Glaus, who is in her second year as the Bulldogs' starting catcher, laughed about the increased frequency of her visits this season.

Notre Dame senior Alecia Glaus is in her second season as the starting catcher for the Bulldogs. (Kit Doyle)

"At the beginning of the season, she said she loves when the catcher comes out and talks to her," Glaus said. "So usually I go out there and I'm like, 'Lauren, you've got to buckle down and not worry about a bad pitch.' At game time, I'm serious so I can go out there and calm her down if she needs to be calmed down."

Reinagel said that Glaus knows exactly what she needs to hear during their visits. It's come from years of playing together, starting on their T-ball teams in Kelso, Mo.

"I like it, our little team meetings," Reinagel said. "She calms me down. I'm usually down, so she tries to lift me up.

"I like comfort. I like to know that if I'm upset, she can calm me down. We have that relationship where we know each other and can work together."

The relationship Glaus and Reinagel enjoy as pitcher and catcher is a big reason why the Bulldogs are headed to their third consecutive Class 3 softball final four. Notre Dame will face Platte County in a semifinal game at 11:30 a.m. Friday at the Heritage Park softball complex in St. Joseph, Mo.

Alecia Glaus arrives at second base with a double last week against DeSoto in the Notre Dame's Sectional win. (Kit Doyle)

"Alecia catches every game and Lauren's not easy to catch," Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett said. "You get a girl throwing a riseball and dropball and working in and out as much as she can. A lot of people don't understand how tough it is to catch. [Reinagel] does throw a lot of strikes, but she's got a ton of movement on it. Alecia's done a great job."

Glaus dismisses the notion that it's difficult to catch Reinagel. The senior catcher said her years of experience catching Reinagel have led her to the point now where there are few surprises.

"You know what she's thinking and what pitches she wants to throw, also the rotation of her ball," Glaus said. "She's an excellent pitcher. It's just I've been with her so long that I'm used to how she throws."

Reinagel's father, Ray, calls most of the pitches, especially in big games. But all three -- both Reinagels and Glaus -- usually are on the same page because they've worked together for so long.

"We know the game and we learned from my dad catching," Lauren Reinagel said. "Alecia has caught on, and she knows what I'm thinking when I'm thinking it."

Notre Dame senior Alecia Glaus bats Saturday in the Bulldogs' quarterfinals win over JFK in Ballwin, Mo. (Kit Doyle)

There haven't been many base runners during the season because of Reinagel's dominance. But when base runners reach base, they rarely test Glaus. She's thrown out two of seven base-stealers.

"It's always nice knowing that you can when you do," Glaus said of gunning down base runners. "But it's nice not having runners on base and not having to worry about it."

Reinagel became the Bulldogs' top pitcher during her sophomore year, but Notre Dame had Lauren Bond, a senior that year, as its catcher. That meant Glaus spent most of the season watching the action. But she credits that year for helping her develop as a player.

"I didn't mind because I know it was Lauren Bond's time to have her senior year," Glaus said. "I knew I had a couple good years coming up. You get to learn from the older people's mistakes and the good things they do, too. It was a learning experience."

Glaus made the most of her opportunity when she stepped into the starting role last season. She batted .351 with a homer and 14 RBIs. She also stole eight bases as a junior.

She's been even better at the plate this season, boasting a .400 average with 22 RBIs as the No. 5 hitter.

"When she gets a pitch to hit, she's usually all over it," Graviett said. "She doesn't miss too many. Sometimes she gets herself out because she chases out of the zone. But a pitcher makes a mistake, she's usually all over it."

While her average and RBIs are up this season, Glaus said she doesn't feel like she's been as effective at the plate.

"I don't think I'm hitting as good this year as last year," she said. "I'm not hitting the ball as far, I feel like."

She's used her speed to create chances, too. She's second on the team with 24 stolen bases to go with 25 runs scored.

Softball is one of the few activities Glaus can squeeze into her schedule. She's loaded up on math and science classes this year because she would like to follow in her mother's footsteps and become a health care professional.

"I just see her help out all my family members," she said of her mother, who is a nurse at Southeast Missouri Hospital. "They all come to her when they need something. It interests me. I love that kind of stuff."

But that means a difficult schedule this year. There's no room for senioritis.

"I'm busy in school work," she said. "I'm going to be a nurse practitioner so I'm getting all that worked out. Lots and lots of homework.

"I'm taking all science and math. It's the hardest year."

Even with all the homework, Glaus will find time to enjoy her third consecutive trip to the final four. After finishing third as a sophomore and second as a junior, she's eager to help her team make the final leap to state champion.

"It's our last chance to try to make it work," she said. "It's this or nothing. I don't think it puts more pressure on us. I think it gives us that much more intensity to win it."