Grosse Pointes

Local softball pitcher’s journey will continue

By Mark Vest
C & G Sports Writer

» Click on image to view full size « Photo by Donna Agusti Amy Zaranek has a reason to be all smiles. The Grosse Pointe North pitcher signs on to play with Wayne State University. Photo by Donna Agusti Amy Zaranek has a reason to be all smiles. The Grosse Pointe North pitcher signs on to play with Wayne State University.

Sometimes, a coach can light up immediately upon getting a first glimpse of an athlete who is going to suit up for their team.

Such was the case for Amanda Pata, Grosse Pointe North’s current girls varsity softball coach, when she took her first gander at an incoming freshman back in the spring of 2009.

At that time, Pata was an associate coach whose primary responsibility was working with pitchers and catchers. One day, Pata got a look at one of her new pupils, a pitcher by the name of Amy Zaranek, and it didn’t take long before the new kid on the block had grabbed the attention of her associate coach.

“When you see a 6-foot freshman coming onto your team, you think, ‘This pitcher might be something in a few years,’” Pata said.

The then-freshman prospect has turned into the proven commodity.

In fact, Zaranek’s play at the high school level has been impressive enough to afford her the opportunity to continue her softball career at Wayne State University next year.

Zaranek had the opportunity to play for a couple of other schools, but chose Wayne State because of its broadcast journalism program, which she intends to major in.

When you look at what she has to offer, it is pretty easy to understand why college programs would come calling. She has set some high-level goals for herself, and has achieved nearly all of them including All-District, All-Conference and All-Region. She also has the school record for doubles in a season with 11 last spring.

In fact, Zaranek led the team in doubles, home runs and RBIs last season. She did all that while batting a cool .549 for the year.

Given those list of offensive accomplishments, it is easy to see why college programs came calling.

But Zaranek’s primary claim to fame is as a pitcher, which is her primary role with Grosse Pointe North, and that is what opened the door for her to don a uniform for the Wayne State Warriors next season.

Last season, Zaranek had an ERA of 1.02, had 235 strikeouts and pitched nearly every game en route to helping her team win a district championship.

The kind of success Zaranek has enjoyed on the mound and at the plate does not happen by accident.

“She’s really dedicated to improving,” Pata said. “She’s always gone the extra mile, taken lessons on her own, (and) played on summer and fall teams to improve. It’s paying off now.”

Part of the “extra mile” for Zaranek includes lifting weights every day, taking pitching and hitting lessons, and doing work outs with a local track and cross country team. She has also played on various travel teams, including one in North Carolina.

“I can focus, buckle down and get stuff done,” Zaranek said. “I don’t get stressed out. I don’t get that nervous. I can focus really hard on the task at hand. If I’m doing a work out, I can put all my concentration into it, and if I’m out on the field playing, I can do it there.”

Despite all the individual dedication and hard work, Zaranek understands that she doesn’t stand alone in accepting credit for her accomplishments.

“Bill Taylor, Ron Smith, coach Pata (coaches) and my parents (have) helped me so much,” Zaranek said. “I’m just really grateful that they’ve always been so supportive of me.”

Zaranek also credits her pitching coach, Doug Gillis, with playing a major role in her development. Gillis’ teachings, Zaranek said, go beyond just the mechanics of how to properly pitch the ball; they include the philosophical approach to the craft of pitching.

“I learned you have to go after the batter,” Zaranek said. “You can’t afford to take a pitch off. You have to be working the whole time. You have to challenge the batter with every pitch.”

Zaranek will have one more opportunity to play a full season with her high school teammates, and she is looking forward to the chance to do so.

“I like how we’re all just a family,” Zaranek said. “I know everyone probably says that, but we really are. I’ve been playing with my catcher, Sarah Richardson, since we were 8 years old. I’ve been playing with them my whole life.”

Zaranek has succeeded academically and athletically during her time at North. The accomplishments she has already achieved would suffice for most athletes.

But she still has a senior season to play, and she isn’t done yet.

“I would like to (be) All-State and play in the all-star game in Lansing,” she said. “I’m hoping to get it this year. I haven’t gotten it yet, but it would be a really big honor if I could do that. If I set my mind to something, I focus and I know I can get it done. I don’t want to settle for less than my best.”
 

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Mark Vest at mvest@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1112.