Nicolette Trapani is the difference-maker for Fontbonne Hall.
It’s not just because of her skill as a pitcher, but her toughness and determination as a person.
The senior ace wiggled out of numerous jams in an eventual 8–2 win over host St. Francis Prep in a rematch of last year’s Brooklyn–Queens softball final. None was bigger than having the bases loaded with two outs in the fifth and Fontbonne up just 5–2. The level of difficulty was raised when Trapani took a hard line drive by Terriers’ slugger Kelly Licul off her shin. She immediately fell to the dirt.
“It came at me really quick so I didn’t feel it at first, but once I dropped to the floor it was painful,” Trapani said.
Fontbonne coach Frank Marinello knew outside of a broken bone Trapani was going to remain in the game and tough through it. This is the same kid who tossed more than 200 pitches combined in Games 2 and 3 of the diocesan championship to come back and win the series. She followed that up by throwing a three-hitter to send the Bonnies to a first Catholic state final. Her track record speaks for itself.
“I knew she’s strong,” Fontbonne third baseman Bianca Marletta said. “I knew she would walk it off and strike them all out.”
Trapani did just that. She fanned St. Francis Prep second baseman Theresa Armano to end the threat. It was one of 12 strikeouts on the day.
Trapani sat down 266 batters on strikes in 155 innings last season. She struck out the side three times against the Terriers last week.
Marinello knows Trapani has the utmost faith in her abilities.
“She’s a confident kid,” he said. “She knows she can go back at any time and strike out four, five, six kids in a row.”
As dangerous as Fontbonne’s lineup is, Trapani gives the Bonnies something no city Catholic school team has outside of Preston and Julianna Orrico. She is a veteran big-game pitcher with the proven ability to dominate a contest. Taking nothing away from the Bonnies’ lineup, but pitching is the biggest ingredient to successful softball, and Fontbonne has it in Trapani.
Trapani understands she will need to be even better than last year if Fontbonne is going to repeat as champions. Her team is now the one others are chasing in the division after Archbishop Molloy won four consecutive crowns.
“It’s definitely a lot of pressure,” Trapani said. “Now everybody expects a lot out of you. You have to deliver.”
So far, she has done nothing but.
