SAGE ROLLS 20
South Carolina recruit Mardjetko strikes out 20 as Lemont tops Shepard
Sage Mardjetko stomped her white-and-green cleats on first base and smiled widely.
Then, after being coaxed by her Lemont teammates in the nearby dugout, the South Carolina-bound pitcher pumped both fists above her head in celebration.
“It’s a way to keep it light and fun,” Mardjetko said. “When I get hits, it’s just fun.”
Talk about fun. Her single put Lemont on top 6-0 in the fifth inning.
As usual, however, it was Mardjetko’s magnificence in the circle that stood out Thursday. The senior right-hander struck out 20 as Lemont cruised to a 10-1 victory over Shepard.
Mardjetko struck out the first 12 batters she faced against Shepard (8-5) as Lemont (10-0) stayed on a roll during a South Suburban Conference crossover in Palos Heights.
Last April, Lemont lost 5-2 to Shepard in an upset. That loomed large in Mardjetko’s mind Thursday as she went out and completely dominated the Astros.
“Considering they beat us last year, we said, ‘We’re coming in hard and we’re going to win,’ ” Mardjetko said.
Lemont, which jumped to a 9-0 lead before Shepard tallied its only run in the fifth, scored in every inning but the sixth. Allison Pawlowicz and Nicole Pontrelli each had two RBIs.
But as is often the case with this juggernaut team, Mardjetko’s star shone brightest.
Mardjetko is fresh off a junior season that was the stuff of softball dreams. She powered Lemont to a state championship, totaled 11 no-hitters and won Gatorade Illinois Softball Player of the Year. In February, she committed to SEC powerhouse South Carolina.
Now a senior, Mardjetko craves more — and she’s better, which is scary.
“I’m improving in reading batters,” Mardjetko said. “It’s
about knowing when to throw what pitch, keeping my pitches sharp with good movement and throwing fast.
“Little things like that make a big difference.”
That attention to detail has allowed the 5-foot-10 Mardjetko to elevate her game — if that was even possible.
She entered Thursday’s start already rocking a flawless season stat line, with zero earned runs to go with four no-hitters.
“Sage is a self-motivated person and a competitor,” Lemont coach Chris Traina said. “And Frankie Rita does a great job working with her. I can’t ask for a better battery.”
Rita, a senior catcher who is committed to play at Drake, has teamed up with Mardjetko since they were 12 years old. Rita also drove in a run Thursday.
“We have a special connection that most people don’t have,”
Rita said. “Obviously, she’s amazing, but once you get to know the person you’re catching for, it’s special.
“We’re mentally there for each other. We come from a small town, so continuing to grow together is special.”
After Mardjetko committed, South Carolina coach Beverly Smith called her “an elite pitcher” in an athletic department
release, predicting she “will be a big part of the future of Gamecock softball in the circle.”
Mardjetko’s mindset continues to revolve around Lemont, however.
After the team produced a Class 3A state runner-up finish in 2021 and a Class 3A state championship in 2022, the goals are clear for 2023.
“I want to win state again,” Mardjetko said. “I want to do it again.”
On the path to winning the state title last spring, Mardjetko didn’t allow a
single home run all season. She threw a perfect game in Lemont’s supersectional win and followed it up with a no-hitter in the state final.
“Sage cares about her team and wants everyone else to be the best they can be,” Traina said. “I’ve watched her come up through the years, and she continues to grow.”