Addison Trail baseball standout Simon Marinelli has developed into an elite catcher.
By Mike Miazga
Correspondent
Addison Trail senior-to-be baseball player Simon Marinelli got the catching bug from his older sister, Crystal, a former member of the Addison Trail softball team.
“She was a catcher for a little bit and I saw her doing it,” Marinelli said. “I liked the idea of trying to throw out runners so I tried to become a catcher.”
At first, Marinelli wasn’t very successful with his plan. “In the house leagues they were never able to put me at catcher,” he said. “I always was playing shortstop or second base.”
That changed in sixth grade when he joined the Addison Blazers travel team. “I was able to catch on that team and since then I have loved my time behind the plate. I love how you always are involved in the action. You are part of every pitch. I also like the responsibility and leadership qualities about the position.”
This past high-school season and this summer, Addison Trail baseball coach Mike Kennedy has lauded Marinelli for his leadership qualities.
“I think I’m a pretty good leader,” said Marinelli. “Coach Kennedy told me when I was a sophomore that I have to step up and then my junior year I was one of the leaders on the varsity team. I tried to step up with the other senior players. They took charge and we helped keep everybody serious and focused and that helped us have a good season.”
Several years ago, Marinelli was nominated by an Addison Trail teacher to take part in a leadership conference that featured student-athletes from all the West Suburban Conference schools.
“Being a leader comes pretty easy for me,” he said. “I like to take charge with different activities.”
Marinelli estimated he threw out around 16 of 45 runners who tried to steal on him this spring, a very solid number.
“I tried my best,” he said, trying to downplay the statistic.
Marinelli recently opened some eyes at a junior high-school showcase event held at the Schaumburg Boomers minor league stadium. He turned in some of the top statistics in the 60-yard dash and the vertical jump. Marinelli also went 2-for-2 in the simulated game with a triple that ended up being the equivalent of an inside-the-park home run after an overthrow. He also had an infield hit.
Marinelli isn’t sure if baseball will be a part of his future beyond high school. “I’m deciding whether or not to play in college,” he said. “It’s going to be based on my major. I’m not sure yet. School and athletics are each very time consuming. I would love to play at the next level but to put in the energy for both studies and playing baseball at the same time is not quite that easy.”
Marinelli, who plays travel baseball for the Elmhurst Cougars organization, is no slouch in the class room either. He has an excellent 4.67 cumulative grade-point average. He posted the first two Bs of his high-school career this year in AP U.S. history and honors pre-calculus. “School is very important to me,” he said.
When he’s not on the baseball field, Marinelli said he enjoys playing other sports with his friends.
“I spend a lot of time playing sports,” said Marinelli. “They always have been a big part of my life.”
And looking ahead, Marinelli sees more good things occurring for the Addison Trail baseball program.
“I’m really excited about the baseball program,” he said. “Coach Kennedy has done a great job expanding the program and developing a lot of good players. If not this coming year, in the next few years the future of Addison Trail baseball is bright. I think there are going to be some good baseball teams that will compete with other teams in the conference and in the playoffs.”
