Panthers' tough-luck ace

Updated: April 25, 2011 6:22AM

Alex Latronica has been downright dominating this spring.

Yet, Griffith's ace pitcher has to be wondering what she needs to do to earn a few more victories.

Despite averaging nearly 10 strikeouts per game, with a stingy .73 ERA, Latronica has only a 5-5 record so far this spring.

While the senior might be the best .500 pitcher this side of the Mississippi River, she admits it's been a little frustrating at times.

"It gets to me a lot at times, but I don't really show my teammates that, because I really respect them and I know everyone is trying their best,'' Latronica said. "I try to do my part, but sometimes, I don't do my part, so I know where they're coming from. I'm part of it, too, when I'm batting, sometimes I can't produce the run or get the hit we need.''

Latronica has lost games this spring in the most incredible ways.

The team recently took a pair of almost-sure wins - against Munster and South Bend Riley - and turned them into losses because of defensive mistakes.

In a 7-1 loss to Lowell, six of the seven runs the Red Devils scored, came courtesy of six Griffith errors.

"Unfortunately, our defense skips a beat every once in a while and isn't always there,'' Griffith coach Ed McLeod said.

Latronica also lost a 2-0 game to Andrean in a showdown with Nicole Steinbach and suffered a 1-0 eight-inning loss to Kankakee Valley and ace Ashley Dobson.

Then there's the team's lack of offensive production.

"It seems like we can get the hits, but we're not producing runs,'' Latronica said. "For whatever reason, we're not doing it when it counts. I know I try really hard and I know that my teammates really do, too. Little mistakes here and there are going to happen. We just have to try and mend them in practice.''

McLeod is a little concerned about the lack of offensive productivity.

"We just can't string anything together,'' he said. "If you look at everything, we should be scoring. A lot of times, everyone goes 1-for-3. The problem is, it's in a lot of different innings. We should be scoring more runs, but we're not. I think we're pressing a little bit too much and not relaxing enough. We need to trust in our abilities.

"I think we're all feeling the frustration of losing games like that. Right now, I think we all want to be the one who stops it and starts turning things around. We can't force the issue. We just have to trust ourselves to get out of the funk we're in. If the top of our order is hitting, the bottom isn't. If the bottom is hitting, the top isn't. I'm not freaking out yet, so hopefully, the girls aren't freaking out, either.''

McLeod wants to find a way to support Latronica and start picking up more wins.

A couple of years ago, the frustration of something like this would have overwhelmed Latronica, who's much more mature now.

"Sophomore year, I had no confidence,'' she said. "I was really nervous to mess up. If a home run happened, or I let up a big run, I used to get really down on myself badly. From then to now, my mental attitude has changed. If something happens now, I try to shake it off and go forward.''

It used to be that if Latronica didn't get the calls she wanted, she would show her frustration and come unglued.

She keeps her cool now and doesn't let the adversity rankle her.

"I used to make all these faces and get so frustrated,'' she said. "That was my weakest point. Now, if I don't get a call I thought was a strike, I'll get the ball, turn around and smile at one of my teammates, or just shrug my shoulders and get ready for my next pitch, because I know if I'm getting really frustrated, it's hard for me to concentrate.''

Latronica credits her pitching coach, Rick Baker, for helping her to learn to overcome tenuous moments and not show her frustration.

"He's told me I can't show my emotions, especially any frustration I might possibly be feeling when I'm out there,'' said Latronica, who's worked with Baker since she was 12.

"I like Rick a lot. He's a very good pitching coach, and he has a lot of knowledge about softball. He and (daughter) Brooke, help me whenever I need it. They're in it for me to get better.''

Latronica said she's the type of person who needs to be pushed, so Baker obliges.

"I need someone who will not only push me, but put pressure on me so I can get better,'' she said. "When there's pressure on me, it makes me want to reach my goals, and reach them faster than I ever did, because I'm getting that constant push.

"Sometimes, he'll yell at me, or get a little more aggressive during my lesson, especially if he feels I can do something better, or if he thinks I'm not putting in all the effort I can. When we're done, we'll usually sit down and recap the whole lesson. That really helps me. I look up to him a lot. He gives me great advice about softball.''

Latronica still wants to make her senior year on the diamond a memorable one.

"I'd like to win the (Northwest Crossroads) conference title, and I think we definitely have a good shot at it this year if we can improve and actually do what we can do,'' she said. "I'd also like to win the sectional and be invited to the North-South All-Star Game, too. I'd really like to have that experience.''

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