LOCKED IN: Willis' Keo wants deep playoff run before headed to Rice
BEING A FOUR-YEAR LETTERMAN ON WILLIS’ VARSITY PROGRAM, MADDOX KEO HAS WITNESSED THE TEAM OVERCOME A GREAT DEAL OF ADVERSITY.
From new coaching, to the COVID-19 epidemic, the senior pitcher has become adept at rolling with the punches.
“Freshman year was tough because it was our COVID year,” he said. “Adapting to the circumstances is something that everyone needed to get used to.
Our culture has changed tremendously in recent memory.
“Last year we slacked a little bit, but this Spring we’re going to be locked in, and a lot of people have been stepping up.”
Willis narrowly missed out on the postseason a year ago, during a season which saw Keo earn second-team, all-district honors.
However, if his baseball journey is any indication, things should play out differently in 2024.
“It all started from a young age, since T-ball when I was three years old,” said Keo. “I’ve grown up with these guys my entire life on the baseball field. The brotherhood and bond that we share has kind of kept me in love with the sport.
“The fact that pitching came naturally to me and I’ve gotten good enough that I was getting DI offers, makes me invest myself that much more.”
Speaking of DI offers, Keo ultimately chose to play for Rice at the conclusion of his high school career.
“I committed to Rice because it felt like home,” he said. “The second reason was because I know that I’m actually going to play during my freshman year. It’s also close enough to come home if I need to.
“I’m normally a very talkative person, and that was the case when I made visits to some other schools. But with my visit to Rice, I didn’t talk – I just soaked it all in. At that point, everything just clicked, and I knew I was making the right decision when I committed that day.”
Prior to games, it’s extremely common for athletes to listen to music to hype themselves up. However, that doesn’t happen to be the case for Keo.
His pregame ritual is much more introspective.
“I’m not a big music guy, actually,” Keo said. “I don’t really listen to anything when we warm up. It’s more of a meditation in my head, and my thoughts for me. After I eat my sweet onion chicken teriyaki sandwich from Subway, I’ll just go into the corner of our field for 30 minutes and think about what I’m going to do, and it relaxes me.
“Being mentally prepared for a game is extremely important to me, in order to avoid frustration. Being physically ready hasn’t been an issue for me, so if I’m focused on the mental side, I know I can do what needs to be done.”
Keo is locked in for his last ride at Willis High and that could be scary for his District 13-6A opponents.