Class of their own

One in a series of stories on the last independent year of St. John Neumann and St. Maria Goretti high schools.

Without Adria Vitale, St. Maria Goretti High might never have established a varsity soccer team.

Without Stephanie Digneo, the Lambs softball team probably wouldn’t have upset Archbishop Carroll during the late 1990s.

The 1999 graduates’ contributions to Goretti athletics were so significant, in fact, that the school will officially recognize them before ending its run as an all-girl institution. Digneo’s number three with the softball team and Vitale’s number four with the soccer team will be retired at Goretti’s final sports banquet on Tuesday.

"The two most outstanding athletes during my tenure here were Stephanie and Adria," said George Bain, who has spent 14 years as Goretti’s athletic director. "Since it’s my last year as athletic director, it just seemed like the appropriate time. If I didn’t retire their numbers now, they would never be retired."

The athletes’ parents will unveil the banners that will be hung in the gym and remain part of the Neumann-Goretti gymnasium when the coed school opens in September. Bain also has prepared special plaques for Digneo, 23, and Vitale, 22.

The former First Team All-Catholic selections will become just the third and fourth Goretti grads to have their numbers retired.

June Olkowski’s (’78) number 45 is retired from the basketball team. She was the star of the 1976 and 1978 Catholic League basketball teams, which remain the only championship squads in school history.

Liz Berry’s number 24 also is retired from the basketball squad. The ’89 Goretti graduate and potential Drexel University basketball standout was killed in a car accident on the Atlantic City Expressway in 1990.

The news that her number would be retired came as a complete surprise to Vitale.

"That is something really special," said the former soccer star, who tallied a school-record 21 goals and 11 assists her senior year. "To be put up there among other elite athletes is very fulfilling."

Digneo, who attended Olkowski’s number-retirement ceremony, said she always dreamed she would receive the same honor.

The onetime All-Catholic shortstop, who is finishing her master’s degree in elementary education at Lehigh University, received the news via letter last month.

"I couldn’t believe they were going to actually do it," said Digneo, of the 2800 block of South Beulah Street. "I was shocked, but so happy."

A Southern Division MVP when she played at Goretti, Digneo is arguably the best shortstop ever to compete in the Philadelphia Catholic League. As a senior, she hit .619 with 18 runs scored, 26 hits, 20 RBI and five home runs. The only thing missing was a trip to the playoffs.

Still, Digneo’s leadership kept the Lambs competitive against the stronger Catholic League squads, and Goretti managed to upset playoff regular Archbishop Carroll in her junior year.

"We knew we were a good team, but no one else in the league respected us being a good team," recalled Digneo, who hit .615 and had 18 extra base hits as a junior.

She said contending for a playoff spot in ’98 and ’99 and winning the Hallahan Tournament are among her fondest memories.

Former Goretti softball coach Jim Cappelli will have glowing words for Digneo at Tuesday night’s ceremony.

"She will make you forget all those who came before her," the coach said. "She will make you agree that you’ll never see another like her because she is the best of the best."

Vitale, of the 2700 block of South 17th Street, also missed out on postseason play, but said it didn’t diminish her Goretti career.

"We weren’t the best team in the league, but we played as a team and had a wonderful time," recalled Vitale, who still plays semi-pro soccer with the United German Hungarian Club. "I wouldn’t want to play for any other team."

Besides, the forward was part of something special. It was because of her leadership that Goretti even had a soccer team. During her freshman year, Vitale asked Bain what could be done about starting a soccer program.

The athletic director told the newcomer to "get some girls together" to form a club.

By her sophomore year, the Lambs were facing varsity competition.

"We were a part of making an actual team from the very beginning," said Vitale, who can claim the first goal in Goretti history.

Unfortunately, a three-win season in Vitale’s senior year would be as much success as the Lambs would attain. But she doesn’t remember the seven defeats as much as she does upsetting Cardinal O’Hara.

"We were the underdogs beating one of the powerhouses of the league," she recalled.

Goretti paved the way for both athletes to play their sports in college.

Vitale received a Division II soccer scholarship to Lock Haven University. One of her proudest moments came during the 2002 season, when she scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give the Lady Eagles a win over Bloomsburg. Her team also advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight and was ranked in the nation’s top-10.

Vitale has no plans to slow down. Aside from soccer, she competed in this month’s Broad Street Run, placing 11th in the 21-24 age division for women.

At Lehigh University, Digneo set a school and Patriot League record for career hits (251). The former First Team All-Patriot League selection said her four very successful seasons at Goretti gave her the confidence to thrive on the college level.

"We had this Goretti and South Philly attitude that no one would get the best of you," she said. "I never gave up."

As happy as Digneo is about her number being retired, the night will be bittersweet.

"I am so thrilled, but so upset that Goretti is merging and closing," she said. "I am happy that the building is still staying there because I couldn’t imagine driving by and not having the high school there."

Vitale said she’ll remember her alma mater on a high note. "With this honor coming in, Goretti’s last year is just a wonderful feeling."