Unlike most kids, Shepard’s Paul Kladis did not have baseball on his radar growing up.
Every other conceivable sport from football to soccer to basketball and swimming held his complete attention. The game of baseball seemingly didn’t even exist for him.
“Compared to the average player, I started very late,” he said. “I never really thought about playing. I was probably 7 or 8 and played around my house, though I wasn’t very good.
“As I got older, I started to get better and then I had one really good season. I saw my potential and what was possible. Suddenly, I started dropping the other sports.”
The senior outfielder/first baseman has provided more production than just a drop in the bucket for the Astros (4-7). He’s hitting .261 this spring with nine runs and six RBIs.
As a No. 2 hitter, he has demonstrated the ability to hit the ball efficiently and effectively. He offers a nice combination of athleticism, versatility and competitiveness.
He’s capable of setting the table, but he can also drive in runners.
“My goal when I’m up there is to always hit the ball hard, wherever it goes,” Kladis said. “I want to hit all sides of the field. I just want to hit the ball hard and score guys.”
As a junior last season, Kladis hit .321 with 18 runs, six doubles and 15 RBIs. He has shown increased power in his game, hitting a two-run triple Tuesday in a 9-5 loss to Richards.
Kladis, who also drove in three runs against the Bulldogs, continues to show his versatility. Primarily a right fielder, he has also played first base and can be called upon to pitch.
Regardless of position, he’s a strong defensive player.
“I think my best quality is the ability to react to any situation no matter what it is,” Kladis said. “I just have good reflexes. When I am up at the plate, I have that experience of doing the same thing over and over again.”
In his first two years at Shepard, Kladis was also a freestyle sprinter for the swim team. The competition is the thing for Kladis, according to senior infielder Josh Case.
“His mentality is the biggest part that puts him above a lot of other players,” Case said. “He has confidence and never backs down against a team, no matter how highly ranked they are.
“He always plays with this intensity.”
Senior pitcher Mike Radz pointed out that Kladis is the connection the rest of the team gravitates toward.
“He is that one person you want to compete with,” Radz said. “Paul has that spark that gets not just me but the rest of the team going.
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“He is a hard worker inside and out of the classroom who still knows how to have fun. He always brings toughness to the table.”
Shockingly, the first thing Kladis had to do was convince himself he belonged, despite being a three-year varsity regular.
“The confidence is the biggest thing I have learned about myself,” he said. “When I was a sophomore as a young kid playing up, I was kind of scared.
“After seeing everybody playing, I realized I was meant to be here, especially with my competence at the plate and field.”
His growth has been incremental and one step at a time rather than profound and obvious.
“When I reflect on it, the thing that really pushes me is the desire to win — the difference of that and losing,” Kladis said. “That’s all the motivation I need. I just love winning.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
