Gnacinski did it all on both sides of the ball

Muskego — Ashley Gnacinski doesn't like to be the center of attention.

No matter how impressive she was at the plate and in the pitcher's circle for the Muskego softball team in 2010, the junior doesn't like to focus on the great deal she accomplished.

"I wasn't necessarily as confident in myself as I was within my team," a very modest Gnacinski said. "I wouldn't be as successful as I was without my defense. It was pretty much them."

This is nothing new, however, for her coach John Rosenberg.

"She likes to say all her success comes about from her teammates," Rosenberg said. "She doesn't like to be in the limelight."

But when players put up gaudy numbers like Gnacinski did, the limelight finds them.

It's not easy to miss a player who hits a staggering .628, who has a slugging percentage of .907 with four home runs, and who drives in runs at an unprecedented rate of 2.5 per game.

Oh, and her pitching wasn't bad, either.

She pitched seven shutout games, had an ERA close to one and had a 17-4 record as the starting pitcher.

Those numbers, along with her role in propelling Muskego (19-6, 12-2 Southeast Conference) to a second-place finish in the SEC, helped Gnacinski earn the 2010 All-Suburban player of the year honors.

New Berlin Eisenhower senior catcher Megan Duerlinger was the runner-up, voted on by NOW sports staff and the online fan vote.

"She (Gnacinski) sets an example for everybody else," Rosenberg said. "A lot of people talk the talk but don't do the walk, and she does it all."

So how did she put together this type of season?

"I don't know if it was just the focus she came in with," Rosenberg said. "Coming in as the captain, I think she was a little more focused in trying to be the team leader."

Gnacinski, a three-year varsity player, said she was simply trying to make strides from her freshman and sophomore seasons.

"I think my main goal was to grow this year and to do better each year and that's happened so far," she said. "I hope that keeps happening."

It will be a tough challenge to duplicate or even match what she did this year, but Rosenberg won't bet against her.

"If she does half of that, it will still be a successful season," Rosenberg said. "That was phenomenal what she did this season. She's a real bulldog. She's the girl I like to have at the plate as well as have the ball in her hands. She's just a gamer."

He said she was so successful due to her offseason workout regime, which consisted of improving her pitching mechanics and working in the weight room.

Her dedication proved valuable for Muskego, as she delivered when her team needed her most. It was almost expected that a run would score when Gnacinski was batting, as she drove in 44 RBIs in the Warriors' first 20 games.

"I feel like it's a responsibility," Gnacinski said. "I feel like it's my job."

Though she was virtually lights-out on the mound, Rosenberg and Gnacinski both said that area of her game can improve.

"I think she's a little more feared at the plate," Rosenberg said. "Her finesse on the mound will grow. She's going to be better on the mound next year than she was this year."

The fact Gnacinski could improve and has another year left in scarlet and black, is a scary thought for opposing pitchers and hitters. It also gives college coaches another look at one of best players in the area.

Gnacinski, an honor student, hasn't decided on a college, but knows no matter what, she wants to continue playing softball.

"If I get a scholarship that would be phenomenal," Gnacinski said. "But if I don't that's OK, too."

While Gnacinski didn't want to talk too much about her college possibilities while trying to deflect any personal attention, Rosenberg praised his athlete on her success.

"She wants to play softball in college," Rosenberg said. "That's her goal. She's about a 3.9 student. As a coach, it makes it a whole lot easier that you have an athlete who is intelligent, works hard and has the gifts and the abilities she has."