Izzy Alvarez was well-established as a starting shortstop last season when Marian Catholic coach Nora Zerante told the team that she was looking for some depth at catcher.
Zerante remembers vividly what happened next.
“Izzy was the first to say, ‘Do you want me to try it?’” Zerante said. “She had a really good arm, so we thought, ‘Oh, OK, Izzy can go back there.’ And her natural athleticism allowed her to just go right in.
“When you see her now, you’d think she had been catching probably her entire life. She’s very coachable. She’s a quick learner.”
Alvarez, now a senior, still patrols shortstop every now and then, but she’s a mainstay behind the plate. She’s also one of the big producers offensively for the Spartans (11-0), who are off to the best start in the program’s history.
The Trinity Christian recruit is batting .486 with 11 runs, four doubles and 15 RBIs. She has already picked a runner off third base and threw out a would-be base stealer Saturday in Marian’s 7-5, 10-2 doubleheader sweep of St. Viator.
She’s feeling it.
“I know I’m continuing to play softball in college, but it’s my last year as a Spartan,” Alvarez said. “I’m trying my hardest to bring up the spirit in our team and also be an example for the freshmen and sophomores.”
Alvarez didn’t go cold into catching last season. She had experience in youth leagues.
But to give up a prime infield spot to deal with foul tips to the mask, balls bouncing in the dirt and maybe an occasional bat to the back of the head?
“Ha-ha, I’ve kind of been tough ever since I was little,” Alvarez said. “It’s something that I would want to do to help me become stronger.
“Growing up, my dad told me I have to be tough. Sometimes, that means not crying. I like being behind the plate, making those catches or even getting hit. It grows me as a person.”
Alvarez has a dynamic senior pitching duo to work with.
Katie Pollock (7-0) has 59 strikeouts with a 0.76 ERA in 46 innings, while Sarah McManus (4-0) has 31 strikeouts with a 1.68 ERA in 25 innings.
Alvarez has a special chemistry with McManus.
“Sarah and I first met freshman year, and last season, coach ‘Z’ would ask me questions about which pitches Sarah should pitch,” Alvarez said. “I always knew which ones and it would always work out.
“Now, whenever Sarah pitches, I know what best works for her.”
Memory vault: In April 2007, Lemont pitcher Suzie Rzegocki made the pages of Sports Illustrated — after a loss.
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She earned national notice after an incredible performance in which she had 38 strikeouts in a 20-inning game against Oak Forest.
The game took two days to complete. Rzegocki had 26 strikeouts in 13 innings before darkness halted play at 1-1. When they returned three days later, she had 12 more strikeouts before the Bengals won the game 2-1 on a walk-off hit by Alyssa Prucak.
The 38 strikeouts remain an Illinois High School Association record. Rzegocki ranks fourth all-time with 1,467 career strikeouts. She’s also a record-holder at Purdue with 86 career wins and 107 complete games.
Double delight: Lincoln-Way Central’s Bella Dimitrijevic had a day to remember April 6 when she threw a no-hitter in a 4-0 win over perennial state contender Barrington.
The sophomore right-hander struck out 13 and allowed just one walk. Knights coach Jeff Tarala couldn’t ask for more, but he got it.
The next morning, Dimitrijevic took on Lockport. She struck out 16 and hit a home run in a 4-3 victory.
“She was on her game,” Tarala said. “When Bella gets motivated, she’s as good as anybody. She’s feeling her way about how to handle hitters and she’s a sophomore, so she’s just learning.”
