Name: Maricela Bissaro
Year:  Sophomore
Height: 5’4
Other Activities: Volleyball
Last Movie Seen: Step up 2
Last song listened to: “With You” by Chris Brown
Favorite Pizza: Pepperoni
Shoes worn today: Navy Blue Converse
The reason I love Mom(or dad, or both): I love my parents very dearly because, they are always there to support me in everything I do. Whether it is in school or sports, I always know that whatever I do they are always there to help me to succeed.
Celebrity I'd most like to have lunch with: Leah O’Brien-Amico, I meet her when she played softball here in San Antonio prior to the Olympics when I was about 10 years old. I admire they way she plays softball.

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Softball is a team effort and you have to rely on your team every pitch to be there. Being a former high school and college catcher, I have heard so much about how pitchers and catchers have to have this special bond.

Is it true? Everyone may have a different opinion and there is no right or wrong answer, but with Maricela Bissaro you can say it is a plus.

Bissaro, a sophomore for Antonian, has moved into the pitching position this year. Last year she was the catcher herself and now she has a new catcher - her cousin, Megan Dellert. The two spend most of their time at practice pitching. Maricela throws between 175-200 pitches daily at practice to build up strength.

"In good pitching games you should throw around 60 pitches, but in a fair game no more than 80”, says coach Laura Rodriguez.

The family bond on the team runs real deep, but the expectations are even higher. Coach Laura Rodriguez, who is also Maricela’s and Megan’s aunt along with her two sisters Letty Morales-Bissaro, and Lidia Dellert all have played softball in college. Maricela’s mother Letty Morales-Bissaro was a member of the St. Mary’s University National Championship team in 1986 as a pitcher.

"My mom and I talk about my pitching all the time in the morning, in the car, she critiques me on my pitching; she tells me what pitches where working and which ones I need to work on”, said Maricela about her mother.

With the help from her mom and the rest of her family Bissaro is leading the way with 111 strikeouts this season. She is on pace to break the city record of 131.

Bissaro, who looks to continue the tradition of attending St. Mary’s University, sees herself in five years studying education there. This sophomore is way ahead of her future with expectations of going on into teaching high school and coaching softball.

With her record of 11-4 Bissaro looks to continue her successful season as she takes the mount this weekend in the San Marcos Tournament.