Above all, Maisto became a role model

When Erica Maisto first took the softball field for Burlington Central as a freshman in 2005, little did anyone know, including her, what kind of career was unfolding.

Now, 4 years later, Maisto has come full circle in more ways than one.

Not only has she excelled on the softball field, winning a school and area record 76 games as a pitcher as well as becoming a starting outfielder when she isn't pitching, but her classroom achievements and conduct have helped her to become the role model all high school students should aspire to be.

Also an all-conference and sectional qualifying golfer in the fall, Maisto has been selected as the 2007-08 Daily Herald Fox Valley Female Athlete of the Year.

Others either nominated and/or considered for the award included Kelly Knott of St. Edward, Kaite Yohn of St. Edward, Kari Rankin of Prairie Ridge, Allison Clark of Elgin Academy, Lizzy Niles of Elgin, and Jenna Karkos of Hampshire.

As a freshman, Maisto won 27 games for Burlington Central and was basically the Rockets' only pitcher. Then, the next year, Mackenzie Scott came onto the team and for the past three seasons Maisto has had to share pitching time -- something that actually made her a better player and person.

""I really didn't mind learning to share that role and I would hope I've become a more well-rounded player and student because of all the different groups I've played with," she said. "Learning to share made me more of a positive role model."

Role model? Maisto embodies the word and here's a prime example. Jane Collins, a young aspiring softball player, had one birthday wish a few years ago: to go watch Maisto pitch.

"She's followed me since then," said Maisto, who learned many of her leadership and role model qualities from her softball mentor, former Burlington Central standout Heather Wendt.

"I want to be that person that people can look at and say 'Wow, I want to be that person.' I try to be nice and I try to work hard. Later in life I want people to say 'she was a good person.' I want to be the person that people can come to and I want to be a person who is in control of herself."

On the softball field, that was never a question. In addition to being 16-0 with a 0.20 ERA, 118 strikeouts and only 11 walks, as well as a .287 batting average this season, Maisto has a career pitching record of 76-9, more wins and fewer losses than any other pitcher in school or Fox Valley area history. In 533 2/3 career innings she has allowed just 43 earned runs (0.56 ERA). She has 528 career strikeouts and only 46 walks and has helped Burlington Central win 128 of the 143 games it had played heading into Thursday's Class 3A sectional semifinal against Freeport.

In addition to being the honorary captain of the 2005 all-area softball team and an all-area pick ever since, she's also been the Big Northern Conference Pitcher of the Year three straight years and a four-time all-conference selection.

"I never thought any of that would happen," Maisto humbly said.

Then there's golf, a sport Maisto had never played prior to high school.

"My dad made me play golf," Maisto laughed. "I was horrible … I was so bad. My freshman year was just getting used to the course and I was in the 70s all the time. I was so bad. But I learned it's so much fun and by this year I was shooting in the high 40s and I made sectionals. It's so relaxing. Softball is so intense and golf is just fun and relaxing."

Her softball coach, Scot Sutherland, has seen Maisto grow up as an athlete and as a person.

"She's an outstanding role model for the entire student body," Sutherland said. "She's shown her capabilities in the classroom and on the athletic field. In my tenure here, she was the one who really got us rolling to the success we've had."

Sutherland has also seen Maisto transform from a young girl into a young woman.

"She's well beyond her birth years in regards to her maturity and her values and that's what makes her such a great role model for younger girls," he said.

The classroom has been every bit as important as the athletic field to Maisto. She sports a 3.82 GPA and ranks 27th in her class of 257. She's a member of the National Honor Society, an all-conference scholar athlete, an IHSA All-State Academic Team nominee and was the school's Daughters of the American Revolution award winner this year. She's also participated in SADD and the art club. She's done the JDRF Walk the last four years as well as the Y-Me Walk for Breast Cancer, and she's been a volunteer coach for a 10U travel softball team. Additionally, she's competed in the Big Northern Conference math competition, a subject she will study at Upper Iowa University -- where she will also play softball on scholarship -- in the hopes of becoming a math teacher and softball coach someday.

Why math?

"I love solving big problems and being hands on," said Maisto, whose dad, Wade, is a social studies teacher at Central and the assistant softball coach. "I'm good at it and I really like our math department."

Above all in that math department, to Maisto, is Debbie Wendt, Heather's mom and Maisto's academic inspiration.

"Mrs. Wendt has been so supportive," Maisto said. "I got a B from her once and I started doubting if I wanted to be a math teacher and she just kept telling me 'you'll be fine, you'll be fine.' She was always there to help me no matter what time it was."

Wendt says if all high school students were like Maisto life would be easy.

"She's a hard worker and a great individual to have in the classroom," Wendt said. "If all our students were like that, you wouldn't have to pay people to teach. She'll do whatever you ask and work hard at it. Her only fault is that she worries too much about not doing good enough. She's a great person, a great kid, and someone you would want your kids to be like.

"She'll make a good teacher because she's very understanding and she's good with kids. She's a good role model for everyone here at our school."

The end of high school is now near for Maisto, whether she wants to realize it or not.

"I don't even want to think about it," she smiled. "I've enjoyed these last four years so much. It's kind of bittersweet. I'm going to start a new chapter in my life and that's exciting, but I'm sad about all the people I want be seeing anymore."

While Maisto credits Heather Wendt for her love of softball -- "I never would have been a pitcher if it wasn't for Heather," she said -- she reserves most of her thanks and praise for her parents, Wade and Kelly.

"They've gone through so much with me," said Maisto, who has a younger sister, Jordan, and a younger brother, Kevin, and lives in rural St. Charles.

"I'm really glad my dad was my coach and I wouldn't have been as successful as I was without him and his knowledge of the game. I always joke with him that when I become a coach he can be my assistant. And my mom … she's driven me all over the place and just coming to all my games and being there for me. My parents have been great."

Just like their daughter.

Previous athletes of the Year

1997-98 -- Billee Russell (Dundee-Crown)

1998-99 -- Kristin Groth (Elgin)

1999-2000 -- Rikki Taden (Burlington Central)

2000-01 -- Tiffany Boshers (Jacobs)

2001-02 -- Katie Grens (Elgin)

2002-03 -- Kerri Rackow (Hampshire)

2003-04 -- Samantha Mader (Huntley)

2004-05 -- Amanda Walker (Hampshire)

2005-06 -- Kim Ebbesen (Bartlett)

2006-07 -- Meaghan Staley-Gamble (Huntley)