When asked to describe herself as a pitcher, Sandburg junior Gianna Schoenecker broke into a smile.
They won’t be playing the “Fireball” walk-up song when she goes to the circle.
“Yeah… I’m more of an off-speed pitcher,” she said. “I throw more junk than fastballs.”
Sophomore catcher Olivia Miele broke into a laugh when told what Schoenecker said.
“Junk? I think it’s good,” Miele said. “It’s like good junk. She has this curveball that’s also like a change-up. I’ve caught her a few times, and it definitely fooled me.”
Miele wasn’t the only one to speak glowingly of Schoenecker’s talent during Wednesday’s indoor practice for the Eagles in Orland Park.
Among the many positive phrases Sandburg coach Amanda Allison used, one stood out.
“Gianna is a player of the game,” Allison said.
Allison didn’t have to plead her case. It was easy enough to look up.
Schoenecker was hands down the player of the game for Sandburg on April 8, 2024. On that date, the right-hander tossed a no-hitter in a 16-0 victory over Stagg.
“I was hitting all of my spots, but it was really all about the support of my team,” Schoenecker said. “They had my back defensively. It was a good day overall.”
Call it a superb sophomore moment. Allison expects there will be many more to come.
“We’re really excited about Gianna,” Allison said. “She’ll be seeing a lot of time this season in the infield and she’ll be getting some innings of pitching as well. She’s going to be a key player.”
Schoenecker has been playing softball since she was 6. The life lessons came quickly.
“I remember how we would go to Peoria once or twice every year,” Schoenecker said. “The most fun were the hotel parts. I learned about bonding with teammates. You see one side of a person on the field, but you get to connect more with them off it.”
Schoenecker grew up in Alsip and also lived for a time in Oak Lawn. She wasn’t destined to be an Eagle until her family moved to Orland Park the summer before her freshman year.
But she did have a connection to Sandburg. Irene Travis was an all-area and first all-state pick as a senior in 2019. She played in college at Missouri-St. Louis.
“She was actually one of my coaches when I played Prestige for 12U,” Schoenecker said. “We didn’t talk much about Sandburg because I wasn’t supposed to go there, but I knew she played a lot and she knew a lot. She was a good coach.”
Schoenecker started her freshman season on the JV team for the Eagles, but earned a late season call-up to the varsity.
Surprise.
“I was a little bit shocked when I was brought up,” she said. “There were already a lot of people on varsity as it was and I was fitting in pretty well on the JV.”
It wasn’t long before she made her first pitching appearance.
A terrifyingly fun moment?
“I was nervous at first,” Schoenecker said, smiling. “But after a while, it was all good.”
As a sophomore, Schoenecker pitched on occasion behind junior Haley Tracy and senior Grace Fuller and also played second base and outfield. In all, she appeared in 16 games, batting .273 with a pair of doubles.
She’ll be bringing it all in 2025.
Tracy, for one, can’t wait.
“I’m glad Gianna had an opportunity to play last year and get to know the team and the expectations of being on the varsity,” Tracy said. “And I mean, pitching a no-hitter is always good, no matter who you are or who you play. That’s an amazing accomplishment.
“Seeing her as a younger athlete, even from last year to this year, she has grown and I’m proud of her. I think she’s a really good player for this team, and we’re going to need her.”
Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
