Neuqua's Marsalli ready for city life

Jenna Marsalli is too young to remember the Chicago White Sox "Southside Hitmen" of the late 1970s.

All she knows is her big bat is headed for the big city.

The Neuqua Valley senior verbally commited to the Illinois-Chicago softball program this week. Marsalli chose UIC over Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and Miami (Ohio), among other schools.

"It's the Chicago thing," Marsalli said. "I liked being in the city with everything going on there, and the coaches are awesome."

Marsalli, primarily a shortstop in three varsity seasons at Neuqua, plays everywhere for her Stone City Sharks summer team - including second base, third, catcher and outfield.

"Her No. 1 position," Sharks coach Jack Podlesny said, "is the batter's box. She's one heck of a hitter. She'll be an impact player no matter where you hit her."

Marsalli hit .472 with 7 homers, 39 RBI and 38 runs scored last spring for Neuqua.

"I don't like playing one position," she said. "If you can hit, you can pretty much play anywhere."

UIC finished 27-26 last spring. Coach Michelle Venturella is a former associate head coach at Iowa with a gaudy playing resume. She won state championships at Thornwood in 1990 and 1991, was an All-America at Indiana and played on U.S. gold medal-winning teams in the 1998 World Championships and 2000 Olympics.

Last season Venturella recruited the best battery in the state - pitcher Devin Miller and catcher Teresa Aguilar of Class 4A champion Loyola. Coryn Schmit from Lake Zurich, a summer teammate of Marsalli's, is also a freshman at UIC this fall.

"I want to come in and make an impact," Marsalli said. "They're building a solid program. I want to be a part of that."