If you’re wondering what a Golden Griffin is, just ask San
Benito senior Lizzy Gatto.
If you’re wondering what a Golden Griffin is, just ask San Benito senior Lizzy Gatto.
The hit-anything, play-anywhere third basemen for the Lady ‘Balers signed a National Letter of Intent to play softball at Canisius College on Thursday night at her home in Hollister.
“It was everything I was looking for in a college,” Gatto said. “And they have a great softball team, and that was the push for me to go there. To get a scholarship there was the icing on the cake.”
Located in Buffalo, N.Y., Canisius is home to the Golden Griffins, a mythological creature that is part eagle, part lion, and in this case, golden.
But Gatto is part of a growing number of Hollisterites who are well-versed on the Golden Griffins, as there are currently two former Haybalers playing for the New York college this year.
Jenny Maheu graduated in 2004 from San Benito High School and is a senior at Canisius, while Rachelle Barrientos came out of Hollister in 2005 and is currently a junior for the Griffs.
Despite moving more than 2,700 miles away, though, Gatto sees that those trail-blazing ‘Balers before her will ease the transition.
“It’ll be less difficult to become acclimated to the surroundings,” Gatto said, “because I’ll be around people that I know and it won’t be so much of a shock.”
Canisius also had everything she was looking for – being a small school with a great softball team, she said – not to mention that it has her major, criminal justice.
“If the softball is great, it doesn’t really matter if you can’t be what you want to be, education wise,” Gatto said.
Choosing Canisius over Purdue, BYU, Monmouth, Santa Clara, University of Redlands and Menlo College, Gatto will seek to continue her stunning softball career on a full ride at the Division I level.
“I’m really excited about what she’s accomplished,” said Gatto’s mother, Maxine. Added her father, Robert, “I’m extremely proud of her ability. She’s one of the hardest working softball players I’ve ever seen.”
Gatto started playing softball when she was 10-years-old on the Hollister Heat, and has since played on club teams Salinas Storm and the Salinas Valley Wildcats, where she was showcased on a national level at the Colorado Fireworks Tournament.
With already two former ‘Balers at Canisius, as well as Caroline Main of Stevenson and Lauryn Chris of Gilroy signing this year as well, Griffs manager Mike Rappl clearly believes in the softball products out of the South Valley.
“He’s been coming to California for a while to get players,” Gatto said. A plethora of players have come from the Wildcats, coached by Dan Miller and Geno Sigala. “Coach Rappl has a lot of trust in the Wildcat program.”
And San Benito softball coach Scott Smith thinks Rappl will be getting a top-of-the-line player in Gatto, no matter where she plays.
“She’s just the hardest worker, probably the hardest working player I’ve ever had,” Smith said. “She’s a great thrower, can hit for power, speed – she’s very versatile. She’s made to play college softball, for sure.”
Gatto has played close to every position, although she’s listed as a third baseman for San Benito. However, Smith spoke of her sophomore year when they needed Gatto to play right field.
She played right field, and threw out 27 runners at first base.
“Her best quality, outside of being a phenomenal softball player, is her attitude,” Smith said. “I don’t think I’ve ever asked her to hustle … I contribute a lot of our success over the last three years to Lizzy.
“We moved her around and she just excelled everywhere. That’s why I think she’ll contribute immediately at Canisius because she can play anywhere.”
As of right now, though, Gatto is pleased the “grueling” process is complete, a process that involved two years of letters and skills videos, all in an effort to sign her name on as a Griff.
“I just want to thank all the coaches that put in the effort and all the time that they’ve dedicated because they are the ones that got me here and they made it possible,” said Gatto, who also thanked Jam-Pak in Hollister for sponsoring her in travel ball. “I’m not worried about being far away because you can always come back to your hometown.”
