By Jimmy Allinder
It’s never been about her when it comes to what Angela Mazurkiewicz considers to be her most memorable moments as a softball player for Monroe Township High School.
The senior catcher is one of the leaders of a team that comes off back-to-back-to-back Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) White Division titles and considers that, as well as being part of the conference tournament championship team two years in a row, as having left the deepest imprint on her young life.
“The GMC [championship] game [two years ago] was memorable,” said Mazurkiewicz, who as a sophomore had the fortune of watching all-state teammate Marisa Monasseri handle the catching duties. “That was a special team (which finished 26-1), and we beat our rival, East Brunswick [High School], in a very competitive and emotional game.”
To be certain, Mazurkiewicz had big shoes to fill when she assumed the catching duties from Monaserri, who has moved on to Caldwell College. But the transition turned out to be seamless. Mazurkiewicz became an immediate contributor at the plate and handled the catching duties like a seasoned veteran. Her batting average for the three years she has been a varsity player is .367.
Mazurkiewicz hopes to capitalize on her experience in her last year to not only improve her statistics, but also to be the best target for All-GMC pitcher Glorianna Perrotte.
This is Mazurkiewicz’s approach to donning the “tools of ignorance,” an ironic term used to describe an intelligent player behind the plate wearing so much protective equipment.
“When I’m catching, I am constantly thinking about what [Glorianna] should throw and what pitches will get batters out,” she said. “That usually means keeping opposing batters guessing. If there are runners on base, I try to be ready to throw out anybody trying to steal.”
Mazurkiewicz understands the huge responsibility that rests on her shoulders because she ultimately controls the tempo of the game.
“I have the advantage of seeing the whole field,” Mazurkiewicz said. “But more than that, my communication with [Glorianna] is crucial to her success. We have to be on the same page as to the best pitch to throw, and my other priority is keeping her relaxed and focused on throwing strikes.”
Mazurkiewicz is just as cerebral with her approach to earning solid grades, and the effort has paid off. She maintains a 3.9 grade-point average and is ranked in the top 20 percent of her class. Mazurkiewicz has also been named to the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honors Society and has made the honor roll every marking period in high school.
Mazurkiewicz is also involved in numerous extracurricular activities, including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Council and Falcon Leadership for Youth Camp. In addition, she volunteers her time at a local nursing home and her church. During the summer, Mazurkiewicz has helped out at the Monroe soccer and softball camps.
Mazurkiewicz hopes a productive senior year will solidify her chance to play softball at Montclair State University, where she plans to major in biology.
“My favorite subject is anatomy and physiology,” she said. “Dr. [James] McIntire is the teacher who influenced me to pursue a career in biology and the healthcare field.”
Those who have most helped Mazurkiewicz develop her softball skills have been her parents and softball coaches.
“I have literally traveled around the country playing softball with the New Jersey Venom 18U team,” she said. “I received instruction from my father, my personal hitting coach, John Schaffer, and my travel coaches, Tony Catalano and Anthony Benish. I’ve also learned much from my high school coach, Mr. [Keith] Hudak.”
Mazurkiewicz is looking forward to this spring, not only because she is a senior, but also because it will be the last time she will be teammates with her twin sister, Gina, who has committed to Penn State University-Brandywine.
“I’m fortunate to be on a team my high school career where I’ve learned from outstanding upperclassmen,” Mazurkewicz said. “Now that I’m a senior, I want to impress on my younger teammates that the key to individual success is what you achieve as a member of a team.”