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This is a very busy time of year for the Malatino family. Mario, 18, and Angelica, 15, pitch for the Girard Academic Music Program baseball and softball teams, respectively.
Since the seasons run concurrently, scheduling conflicts can arise. That could present a sticky situation for some clans, but not the Malatinos.
Last Thursday, the players’ mom, Anne Malatino, and grandfather, Adam Cavalier, watched sophomore Angelica pick up a 22-2 win over William Penn. Dad Mario Malatino provided cell-phone updates as his son’s team lost 13-3 to Bartram. The younger Mario, a senior, didn’t pitch in the game.
"Usually, I am here, but if Mario pitches, I go to his games," said Anne, of the 2400 block of South Lambert Street.
The family also finds time to watch son, Adam, 13, play for St. Monica’s CYO baseball team.
Cavalier, who lives in Northeast Philadelphia, drives to the high-school contests every week. He described Angelica as a "triple threat."
"She is probably the best pitcher in the whole league," Cavalier said while watching the game through the fence. "She is probably the best hitter and the best fielder. Nobody does all three."
The numbers prove his words are more than just grandfatherly bias. Angelica has picked up all seven GAMP wins this season and is leading her team in batting average and RBI. After every win, Cavalier is waiting on the sidelines, ready to offer his congratulations and a few bucks as a reward.
Angelica says it’s her family’s moral support she values most.
"They are always there to help me," said the athlete, who grew up playing hardball with the boys at the Delaware Valley Youth Athletic Association.
When Mario steps to the mound for the Pioneers, he can expect his father to be standing behind the backstop, shouting out pointers and words of encouragement. The elder Malatino started coaching his son at age 4, and has nurtured his athletic career ever since.
"I owe a lot to him," Mario said of his dad, who also coaches his South Philadelphia Thunder team.
"He is real talkative and he gets really into the games," the player added. "He always tries to help somebody out."
The pitcher is making his dad proud with some standout performances against the Public League’s top teams. The best was last month’s 5-2 victory over Washington, in which Malatino struck out 15 batters while surrendering just three hits. The senior also struck out 11 in a 2-0 win over Northeast. Last week, Mario picked up another 10 strikeouts in a 2-1 loss to Central.
"I just pitch my game," Mario said. "I did a lot of practicing during the off-season at a baseball academy in Delaware County to work on my pitching. The sessions helped me throw harder and faster."
The player is saving some of that power for later this month, when the Pioneers begin their pursuit of another Public League title. Last year’s 8-6 win over Northeast High marked the first championship for a GAMP athletic team.
"The experience of last year was great," Mario said. "You wake up the next day and can’t believe it happened."
Angelica was at La Salle University watching every pitch.
"Being a pitcher, I felt what he was going through," she said. "As his sister, I was there to help him."
Angelica’s softball team might have its own championship momentum this season. The 7-5 Pioneers are striving to advance past the Public League quarterfinals for the first time in program history. Angelica’s contributions — including a team-best .540 batting average — helped the squad reach that point last season.
Mario said he is not surprised by any of his sister’s achievements.
"She is the better hitter," he said. "My sister never had to practice as a kid. She was a natural at it."
But believing she could use some guidance on the mound, Angelica spent part of the off-season working with a pitching coach.
GAMP softball coach Frank Cipparone believes Angelica has the potential to be a college star at the level of St. Maria Goretti grad Stephanie Digneo, who recently broke the Lehigh University and Patriot League career hits record.
"I would like to see her get to the level where she is not just a good player, but a dominating player in the league," the coach said.
Heading into the final weeks of the regular season, GAMP’s baseball team is in the middle of the Division A pack with a 5-7 record. Mario is one of just three seniors on the young squad.
Coach Art Kratchman plans to use the experienced player in all of the big games.
"He is one of the top players in the league," Kratchman said. "He has had three to four outstanding outings in a row. When Mario goes out there, we seem to have a much better chance to win."
Malatino, who will likely play for Division III Gwynedd-Mercy College, said he thrives in high-pressure situations.
"I want to be in control of the game," he said. "I never had a problem dealing with it. I play to win championships."
If the season works out ideally, he will. And Angelica will help clinch a softball championship, while younger brother Adam brings home a Region Six CYO title.
In anticipation of a long playoff run, the family is keeping those cell phones charged. But they don’t seem to mind all the rushing around to watch the kids play.
"I’ve loved it from the time when they were little," Anne Malatino said. "It’s very exciting to see them excel from when they were little."
