Junior pitcher Aleksandria Blanco enjoys a dramatic, concert-like effort for Oak Lawn.
It makes sense because Blanco also is a drummer. And on a historic night for Crete-Monee’s softball program, she provided a personal performance that rivaled any fireworks display.
“I hit the ball as hard as I could and ran as fast as possible,” Blanco said of the Spartans’ nine-run third inning. “It boosted my confidence, and I was so happy with what I did out there.
“I just wanted to come right back up again and hit again.”
Again and again worked Friday night for Blanco, who produced an RBI and triple for Oak Lawn in that huge third to spark a 22-6 victory over host Crete-Monee in five innings in Crete.
Junior infielder Charlotte Diaz also drove in three runs for the Spartans (11-10), while sophomore infielder Anaysa Salmon added two RBIs and also worked two innings of relief.
Junior outfielder Aubrey Anderson punctuated the win with a three-run homer in the top of the fifth.
The performance overshadowed a special dedication ceremony naming Crete-Monee’s new field in honor of legendary coach Sue Giannantonio, known affectionately as “Coach G,” who won 530 games and sent more than 50 players to college in a 32-year career with the Warriors.
Blanco, meanwhile, also earned the pitching victory, striking out three and giving up four hits in three innings. She finished 3-for-3 with two walks, three runs and three RBIs.
“She’s an amazing pitcher,” Diaz said of Blanco. “She’s a great person and teammate. She knows how to pick the team up. And she does it either as a hitter or a pitcher.”
Senior outfielder Raechel Lindsay and junior designated hitter Giselle Angulo contributed two RBIs apiece for Crete-Monee (12-8).
The star of the show, though, was Blanco. Salmon praised her easygoing and friendly nature.
“She made those big hits, and right after that, we were having fun,” Salmon said. ”As a person, she’s shy and quiet, but her energy is amazing. She knows how to get everybody pumped up.”
Blanco ignited the Spartans, who overcame a 5-1 deficit. Her triple opened the floodgates.
“I try to look at the pitcher’s hand to see what pitches they’re throwing,” she said. “Sometimes, I can see if they’re throwing a change-up or something else and I’m able to catch up on it.”
Blanco alternates between playing third base or first base during games when she’s not pitching.
After seeing spot duty as a freshman, Blanco made a leap last season in her full year as a varsity starter. Her positional flexibility and ability to also pitch set her apart.
”I think I’ve improved so much,” Blanco said. “A bunch of my teammates got brought up to the varsity with me and they’re my grade level.
”My favorite part of the game is being around good people and good teammates.”
She also played volleyball when she was younger, but baseball was her introduction to sports. She quickly made the transition to softball, playing in recreational leagues in Oak Lawn.
“That’s where it all started and I just remember that early excitement,” Blanco said. “Every time you got a hit, somebody was there cheering you on.
“I started doing better with my hitting and the coaches started noticing.”
Around the same time, she developed her passion for music and playing the drums in fifth grade.
Now, Blanco is a proud member of Oak Lawn’s drum line, which plays at football and basketball games and school concerts.
The different performance styles bring her joy.
“I just love it like softball,” she said. “It’s a great environment to be around. I love having different friends and being able to do different things. It helps bring out different parts of me.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
