Frankie says relax
Drake recruit Rita makes critical tag at home plate as Lemont slips past RedHawks
Catching in the steady rain isn’t a ton of fun for Lemont senior Frankie Rita. With all that equipment on, maneuvering around the plate can be a tad bit treacherous.
Truth be told, though, the Drake recruit feels more concern for her pitcher, Sage Mardjetko.
“I don’t really worry about myself,” Rita said. “It stinks for her because I know the things she can do and everything she’s capable of. To see her work through such adversity is cool.
“But it stinks because I know she can do 20 times better than when she’s in the rain. I just try to help her and make sure she gets the ball to me.”
Mardjetko did just fine Wednesday, while Rita made the play of the game to lead Lemont to a 1-0 rainsoaked victory over host Marist in Chicago.
Nicole Pontrelli picked up two hits and scored the run for Lemont (2-0). Avaree Taylor added two hits. The South Carolina-bound Mardjetko struck out 10 and allowed just three hits.
Eileen Donahue, Camryn Lyons and Ellie Holmstrom each had hits for Marist (1-1). Gianna Hillegonds struck out seven.
Rita, meanwhile, was surefooted when it counted the most in the bottom of the seventh.
Donahue was on second base with two outs for Marist when Lyons delivered a ground single into left field. Pontrelli fielded the ball and threw home to Rita.
The peg to the plate was a two-hopper. Rita snagged the ball on the right side, reached left and made the tag on a sliding Donahue.
“It was a little scary, but I knew Nicole’s capabilities,” Rita said. “Even though my feet were a little heavy from this stuff, I knew we would get her.”
Pontrelli? She wasn’t worried either.
“It’s really comforting having
her back there,” Pontrelli said of Rita. “I’m confident in her and know when I throw a ball in, whether it’s good or bad, she’s got it.”
Rita has been a key contributor the last two seasons for Lemont, which finished second in the state in Class 3A in 2021 and won it all in 2022.
Last season Rita hit .425 with 41 runs and 33 RBIs. She and Mardjetko were an all-state battery.
“I can’t even describe what Frankie does for me,” Mardjetko said. “Not just catching the ball, but framing and calling pitches and having my back out there when things get rough. She’s always there to pick me up.
“I’ve had a lot of catchers throughout my softball life. But she knows where I’m going to miss, when I’m going to miss, how it’s going to tail when I miss. That makes it so much easier to trust her and know we’re going to succeed.”
Rita’s first glove wasn’t a catcher’s mitt, however. She played in the outfield, then middle infield, before going behind the plate at age 12.
“Being in the game since I was young, I lived for it,” Rita said. “Being in every play as a catcher makes it so much more special.
“I’m always involved, whether I’m calling a pitch, catching it or if it gets past me, I’ll run and go get the ball. Being in the game every second is so much more fun.”
Being the batterymate of one of the top high school pitchers in the country is pretty much icing on the cake.
“It’s definitely a luxury, but it can be a challenge at times,” Rita said of teaming with Mardjetko. “When she wants to shut everything down, it can be a challenge to get her back up.” Her method? “Ha-ha, I don’t know if I can share that,” Rita said, laughing. “I know her capabilities. If something’s not working, we know exactly what the next pitch to call is.
“Being on the same mind track is so helpful.”