Rallo rips his way into record books
It took all of one at-bat for Tony Rallo to make his presence felt this season.
Rallo’s RBI base hit that landed at the base of the right-field fence drove in the second run of the first inning during St. Charles East’s 7-2 season-opening victory over Barrington.
It seemed like one of the few times that a Rallo line drive failed to clear an outfield fence.
The Saints’ slugging senior first baseman, who set single-season school records for home runs (14), RBI (60), and grand slams (3) while hitting .480 and helping lead the team to a share of the Upstate Eight Conference River Division title, has been named the Captain of the Daily Herald’s Tri-Cities All-Area team for 2011.
Those numbers are pretty impressive for a guy who experienced his share of struggles as a junior last season.
“I learned a lot from last year,” said Rallo. “I lost my starting spot and it’s hard to explain what went wrong. I might have been trying too hard.”
Rallo also suffered a serious health scare that forced him to be sidelined for a couple weeks during the middle of the season a year ago.
The left-handed hitter was diagnosed with pneumomediastinum after tearing the membrane that lines the heart and lungs.
“It was a freak accident,” said Rallo. “It was pretty scary because my whole upper body got real stiff and tight. I literally couldn’t move.
“I stayed in bed for four or five days and basically did nothing,” he added.
Despite missing some playing time, Rallo was fortunate things didn’t turn out much worse.
“It was a minor tear,” said Rallo. “A bigger tear could have been life-threatening.”
Last June, Rallo began the road back while playing for assistant coach Nick Matsie’s Pro Player travel team and for the Saints’ eventual state quarterfinal-qualifying summer squad.
“That’s when I got my confidence back,” said Rallo, who also embarked on a rigorous off-season conditioning program.
“I worked out a lot more in the weight room with a couple teammates, and I spent a lot of time working with Coach (Dave) Haskins and Coach Matsie last winter and right before the season.”
Adding more muscle and a few pounds to an already sturdy frame, Rallo came out swinging this spring.
“I knew that I needed to take advantage of the opportunity given to me,” said Rallo.
He certainly did that — and more.
His offensive highlights included a 2-home run game against Lake Park; a 6-RBI performance that included a grand slam versus Prairie Ridge; and a 5-for-6 effort with a home run, double and 3 RBI during a doubleheader sweep of Batavia.
His three most memorable long balls may have been a towering blast to right field at Geneva, a game-tying, 2-run shot into the teeth of a wind against Batavia, and the record-breaking 13th home run of the year against Geneva.
“That one he hit at Geneva hit the top of the trees by the parking lot,” said Haskins. “Even the home-plate umpire said, ‘wow’ after that one.”
About a week after eclipsing Pat Durr’s team RBI record (47), Rallo broke Jim Caine’s school home run mark (12) with a line drive that cleared the fence in right-center.
Caine and Durr were standouts for former Saints coach Len Asquini’s state championship team in 1999.
“It’s a good feeling,” Rallo said of joining some elite company. “I was just trying to hit the ball hard — I wasn’t trying to hit home runs.”
Several times during the course of the season, opposing teams put on the “Rallo Shift,” employing three infielders to the right of second base.
“I did laugh a couple times after seeing that,” said Rallo. “I thought to myself that one time I was going to try and bunt because the third baseman was basically playing shortstop.”
The bunt never materialized but the good times continued for the self-confessed “Mama’s Boy,” who will play at Judson University in Elgin next fall.
“I didn’t want to go too far from home so I’m real excited to go there,” said Rallo, who plans on majoring in special education at Judson with the hope of one day becoming a teacher and baseball coach at St. Charles East.
“Their baseball team just went 42-10 and qualified for the NCCAA World Series,” he added.
Haskins expects Rallo to succeed at the next level.
“He has the work ethic and talent to do it,” said the coach. “He’s a great young man who works extremely hard and has tremendous leadership qualities.
“He improved defensively a ton as well,” added Haskins. “I think he just grew up as a young man this season.”
Nicknamed “Big Tone” by his teammates, Rallo enjoyed putting on a Saints uniform.
“Wearing the black and orange every day is a great honor,” said the 18-year-old.
His favorite memory came a few weeks ago.
“It had to be when we beat (St. Charles) North at North,” said Rallo. “We took the series from them and won conference that same day. We sang the school song on the bus ride back home. It was fantastic.”