An injury ended the high school catching and batting career of Joliet Catholic’s Wrigley Fanter.
The senior is still, however, a team MVP in many other ways.
Before Wednesday’s game, Fanter helped coach Tina Kinsella set up a snack table for visiting junior high kids. She helped line the field and batter’s box. She also was the DJ for warmups.
During the game, she called pitches from the dugout for sophomore catcher Emma Mackey. In between, she was one of the loudest supporters for the Angels.
“I do try to make the best of it,” Fanter said, smiling. “I like to talk a lot. My teammates will tell you I’m always yelling, always cheering.”
Fanter was motivation aplenty for Joliet Catholic during an 8-2 East Suburban Catholic Conference victory over visiting Marian Catholic.
Madison Patrick picked up a triple among three hits for the Angels (11-7, 5-3). Sydney Walker added three hits, while Addy Rizzatto contributed three RBIs. Nina Sebahar struck out nine.
Jackie Pollock had an RBI double for Marian Catholic (4-14, 2-6). Mya Davis added an RBI single.
Joliet Catholic’s Wrigley Fanter talks with catcher Emma Mackey in between innings of an East Suburban Catholic Conference game against Marian Catholic in Joliet on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
Fanter, a Lehigh recruit, is putting a brave face on the most difficult spring of her softball career.
The three-year standout was looking forward to a big senior season when she began feeling discomfort in her right shoulder.
“I told my parents, ‘Hey, this doesn’t seem good,’” Fanter said. “Then we went to the doctor, and after MRIs and physical therapy to try and figure everything out, I still had pain throwing.
“So we knew we needed more than PT to attack this problem sooner rather than later.”
The final diagnosis was a torn labrum and an inflamed bursa sac. The treatment would require a cortisone shot and a platelet-rich plasma injection.
Fanter, meanwhile, started the season as a designated hitter. She appeared in 13 games, batting .469 with five doubles and 15 RBIs.
She also embraced a new role as mentor for her successor behind the plate.
Joliet Catholic’s Wrigley Fanter (3) swings at a pitch against Marist during an East Suburban Catholic Conference game in Joliet on Monday, April 15, 2024. (Trent Sprague / Daily Southtown)
“Wrigley was really friendly, really outgoing from the start,” Mackey said. “And she’s more than just a good pitch caller. Anything I do, she helps me through it. I’ve learned a lot from her this season.”
To say the least, it has made a tough loss of a key player a little easier to take.
“She’s like having another set of hands,” Kinsella said. “At practice, I can say, ‘Hey, can you watch this pitcher? Can you watch this catcher?’ We only have two coaches, so having Wrigley being able to give advice makes a huge difference. I know they’re in good hands.
“She has turned into being another coach. Her signature with this program will be as someone who would do anything she could do for the team.”
Fanter is the middle sister of three who have played for the Angels. She played with older sister Phoenix in 2021, when the Angels advanced to the Class 2A state finals and finished second.
As a freshman, Fanter played third base and batted .414 with 26 runs, nine doubles, three triples and 31 RBIs.
Joliet Catholic catcher Wrigley Fanter (3) warms up before an East Suburban Catholic Conference game in Joliet on Monday, April 15, 2024. (Trent Sprague / Daily Southtown)
It was only the beginning of a memorable Angels career, which ended a little sooner than junior sister Addison would have liked.
“I feel really bad for her because I know it definitely is a struggle she’s going through,” Addison said. “But she has had a really great attitude through it all. Even with her being hurt, she continues to show me support, which is very important to me. She’s my big sister.”
The future awaits, and Wrigley Fanter can’t wait for what it brings.
“I’m just trying to keep a good outlook,” she said. “After two months, there is a possibility I could be hitting again. And in three to four months, my throwing program should be over.
“So that’ll be in time for college. For now, I’ll stay in the moment, be positive and look forward to the future.”
Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
