Styles by M.J.

M.J. is a designer name for sure.

So how can Michal Jane Maropis, often known as M.J., miss in what she hopes to be a future in the world of fashion design?

She sure doesn't miss much at shortstop.

Maropis has been there for three straight years for coach Perry Peterson's Barrington softball team and has covered her position as well as anyone in the area.

The all-area senior also has covered a lot of ground with her bat, clubbing 6 home runs and 14 doubles in her varsity career.

Her game-clinching home run as a sophomore that defeated Mundelein in the 2006 supersectional made it on the 10 p.m. Channel 2 sportscast.

Maropis would love to make it in the field of fashion design.

"I've always been interested in it," said Maropis, an honor roll student who received an "A" in a fashion merchandising class her junior year. "I read a lot about it. I like looking at the different styles and reading fashion magazines. I think it would be fun working for a fashion magazine. I like foreseeing new trends."

Maropis has been part of an impressive trend in her three past years with the Barrington varsity -- three straight trips to East Peoria for the state finals.

"Getting second last year was a highlight of my career," Maropis said. "Second place was bittersweet but it was still a great feeling."

Maropis often gives her teammates and fans a great feeling with one of her smashing home runs or dynamic plays at short.

"I feel so comfortable at shortstop," she said. "If I were put anywhere else, I would have to be taught all over again. I love the play where you have a runner on third base and fake the throw to first, and then catch the runner leaving third."

Hitting-wise, Maropis loves swinging away.

"I've never been a bunter or small-game player," said Maropis, who is considering studying at Missouri or Iowa. "Honestly, my dad (Mike) has taught me almost everything about softball and hitting. He just tells me to be confident, relax and know I can hit."

Everyone in the MSL knows she can hit.

Maropis batted .397 last spring in the MSL.

"M.J. is having the best start in her career," said Fillies coach Perry Peterson. "She is 7-for-13 (.538) in our first five games. We hope she continues her torrid pace."

Maropis would love to keep the hot bat for Peterson, who has been her varsity coach for three seasons.

"He's a great coach," she said. "Every year, he makes us a good team. It really doesn't matter who is on the team."

But players like Maropis, who also played for Babbi Barreiro's varsity basketball team, sure make it easier.

"M.J. brings plenty of confidence to our team with her consistency at shortstop," Peterson said. "Her demonstrated performance helps our younger players see how things need to be done on a daily basis."

Growing up, Maropis got daily instruction on the game from her father Mike, who played high school sports in Pennsylvania, where he and his wife Debbie grew up and were high school sweethearts.

"I even did a paper in creative writing class about the different stages of softball that I learned from my father," Michal Jane said. "I wrote about everything all the way to playing in the state championship game last spring and how much I really appreciated everything my father did to make me the player that I am."

When she came in as a freshman, Maropis said she could never picture playing for a state softball championship.

"I was just focused on my job," she said.

A job she has done quite well.

"I also enjoy covering second base on steals," she said. "I love the bruises that come with it. I kind of show them off. When we're in season, it's stylish."

Michal Jane is already thinking style.

And her style of play brings a smile to the face of Peterson.

"It's been a pleasure to coach M.J. since her freshmen year when we brought her up to the varsity for the state tournament," he said.

At that point, Maropis was the backup to all-area shortstop Maggie Stopka.

"Mr. Peterson talked to me about that (watching Stopka)," Maropis said. "That's why he brought me up. Maggie helped me a lot. She taught me a lot and kind of helped me along."

Now Maropis is a Fillies' all-area shortstop, just like Stopka.

"M.J. has held up her end of the bargain," Peterson said. "She has shown constant improvement every season."