Family ties drive Whitaker
Family is Mckay Whitaker's foundation in baseball. His father, Todd, taught him the sport and his mother, Libby, was his most ardent supporter.
But the Worthington Kilbourne senior's foundation was rocked last year when his mother died just before the season after a battle with breast cancer. He's still dealing with the loss, but draws strength from his mother's memory.
“She was a fighter,” Whitaker said. “She fought through it for a long time and was always super positive. It was just a tough thing to go through, but you learn a lot of things and grow up a lot faster than a lot of people. In a way, it's helped me mature and that helps with all parts of your life, even sports.”
Last season was difficult for Whitaker, who batted .346 with two homers and 23 RBIS.
“It was a hard year last year, for sure,” he said. “I didn't perform as well as I would have liked to or anything. I was just sad. Experiencing that and going through life — trying to live normally or find a new normal. It was a tough year, but I'm feeling much better now and I'm ready to go. I think having family that's super close was what really helped me be strong.”
An Indiana commit who plays first base and outfield, Whitaker is batting .545 with four walks, seven RBIS, four runs and three doubles this season.
“Last year, he struggled compared to his standards,” coach Ryan Sparks said. “What we've seen his senior year so far has been night and day. Obviously, losing his mother right before his junior year had to take a huge mental toll on his performance. (But) he's had a really great start to his senior year.”
Whitaker said his mother always knew how to break up the tension during a game.
“She was a beacon of light,” he said. “She was always out there screaming and yelling. She'd just try to make me not be so serious. She'd calm me down and keep my feet on the ground. She'd yell something at me from behind home plate and get me laughing. She came to every game. Never missed one.
“One time – I think it was 12U baseball or something like that – it was a doubleheader. I think I was 0-for on the day. She screamed, ‘Mckay, hit the (darn) ball or we are going home.' Just chirping at me.”
It was Whitaker's aptitude for the game that Sparks noticed early on.
“He's always felt like an extra coach on the field,” Sparks said. “His savvy and game knowledge has been awesome. His skill set is really, really good. It's Division I for sure, no doubt.”
Whitaker credits his dad for teaching him the game. Todd played at Copley before suffering a career-ending back injury.