Today’s spotlight is on a player who recently joined one of the top club programs in the country and her club coach thinks she’s going to open a lot of eyes with her catching abilities… and she also just committed a week ago!

Name: MARILYN RIZZATO
Grad Year: 2016
Pos: C/3B/1B
High School: North Forney (Forney, Texas)
Club: Texas Glory – Shelton                                                            
College: Louisiana Tech

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FullCountSoftball.com: Coach Kevin Shelton of Texas Glory raves about you as being a “diamond in the rough who had essentially no exposure” but now you’re with one of the premier teams in the country… had did you get hooked up with the Glory?
Marilyn Rizzato: The last team I was on broke up and I knew I had to get on a team that would get me recruited to the school that I believe I should play at. Everyone told me that I needed to get on a Glory team and fast. So I went to the Glory tryouts with all the Glories and made the best of the best teams (Glory-Shelton). I knew that being on this team was a great opportunity for me, but I also needed to prepare myself for hard work and discipline.

FCS.com: At 5-foot-11, you’re pretty tall… the logical question would be if you’ve also played basketball or volleyball?
MR: Yes, I played volleyball in high school my freshman and sophomore years. I didn’t play my junior year because my main focus during the fall was getting recruited.

FCS.com: Do you think your height helps you as a catcher or does it make it tougher to get out of your stance and, with longer arms, release the ball on throws?
MR: I think my height is extremely helpful as a catcher. Being smaller or shorter doesn’t make a difference on how fast you can block a ball or your pop time. It just depends on how you prepare yourself and work hard enough to be faster. My longer arms benefit me because I feel like before I release the ball I have more range which allows me to throw the ball even harder.

FCS.com: Tell us how you were first seen by the Louisiana Tech coaches, then how long until they offered?
MR: Louisiana Tech first came out and watched me play at the Ronald McDonald tournament. They watched me play two games and on my way home from Houston Coach Kevin told me to call them and tell them I’d like to go on a visit because they were interested. I went on a visit two days after they watched me play and they offered me on my visit.

FCS.com: How and why did you decide La Tech was the place for you?
MR: As soon as I saw the campus I immediately fell in love. It was beautiful. The people that I met all seemed great. The school had everything that I ever dreamed of and more. As soon as I saw the softball field I knew that I’d love to be a Lady Techster playing on that field.

FCS.com: Where were you when you told the coaches you’d be coming: in person, on the phone, on an unofficial visit?
MR: I was in the car on the way home from the Ronald McDonald tournament.

FCS.com: Describe your emotions around telling them, were you more nervous or more excited?
MR: I was a little nervous, but more excited.

FCS.com: What do you think you do best on the softball field?
MR: My offensive contribution to the game is what I’m best at. Also, my leadership and encouragement.

FCS.com: Which position is your favorite of the three you’ve played (C/3B/1B) and which is the toughest?
MR: My favorite position is, by far, catching. When I catch I feel like I’m in control of the field and that’s what I love about it. Everyone feeds off of me and if I’m encouraging my pitcher or one of my teammates, everyone else chimes in. The toughest is probably also catching. You are in control. Sometimes it can be stressful. In a close game a catcher is moving or doing something every single pitch. This means more room for error and at this level of softball a small error can go a long way!

FCS.com: What’s been a top memory or two for you in your athletic career?
MR: My top memory is when I played for X-Factor. We were visitors and up by only one run in the last inning. There were runners on second and third and we had two outs. I was playing left field at the time and the girl hit a line drive between my centerfielder and me. I immediately go for it. The thoughts going through my head are, “This is it, I either catch it and we win or I miss it and we lose.” I lie out for the ball and catch it. My face lit up as I walked into the circle to put the ball down and then return to third base to shake the other teams’ hands. These kinds of moments are why I play!

Quick Hitters

 

What do you want to major in?
Nursing.

Fill in the blank… I’m happiest when:_________________
… I succeed in what I’ve been working hard for.

Favorite food:
Spaghetti.

Least favorite school subject:
English/Reading.

What’s your dream vacation?
To travel to secret hidden bunkers all around the world.

What type of bat do you use and what do you like about it?
DeMarini.

What’s something unusual or different about you that few know?
I enjoy driving around by myself at times and listening to music.

How would your friends describe you in one word?
Sarcastic.

What’s your “guilty pleasure,” something you hate to admit you love?
Coffee.

If you could have a super power, what would you want it to be?
To fly.

What’s playing in your earphones/buds right now?
Pandora/Miranda Lambert radio.

What did you want to be when you were little?
A veterinarian.

Nickname(s):
Mar, Maril.

Something on your “must do” list:
Succeed in life and support my family.