Dirienzo shines during championship season
Franklin's Jay Dirienzo cheers as he crosses home plate to score against West Bend West in the state-championship game. Photo By NOW Photo by Peter Zuzga
Franklin — Jay Dirienzo doesn't have a crystal ball, but he believes he has a future in baseball.
So far, he has done everything to ensure that it happens.
He walked away from football and volleyball to focus solely on baseball, a sport Dirienzo has played since he was 5 years old. He has now dedicated himself year-round to the sport.
"I want to play in college," Dirienzo said. "This is what I want to do."
After wrapping up another impressive season that helped Franklin win its first WIAA state summer baseball championship, Dirienzo's future continues to look bright.
For the second consecutive year, Dirienzo has been named to the NOW Newspapers All-Suburban Baseball Team. This honor comes after the junior right fielder earned first-team Greater Metro Conference honors for the second straight season.
"This was probably the most fun I've had playing baseball and not just because we won a state championship," said Dirienzo, one of Franklin's three team captains.
Dirienzo was solid all year and played a pivotal role in helping the Sabers run the table in the postseason. One year after posting a .400 batting average, he increased that mark to a staggering .438. And despite facing many outstanding pitchers from the Greater Metro Conference, Dirienzo delivered time after time.
"There were a lot of challenging pitchers in the GMC," Dirienzo said. "They were all great. Hits were hard to come by."
Not for Dirienzo, however, as he broke his own school record for hits in a season with 56 and at one point boasted a 25-game hitting streak that dated back to last year. His 35 career doubles are four shy of the school record.
"I just love hitting," Dirienzo said. "It's great. I can't stay away from hitting."
Said Franklin coach Jim Hughes, "The best word to describe him is consistent. He's always going to get a big hit or score big runs. I didn't even realize (he had a hitting streak) because you just expect it.
"He's certainly in the top tier of hitters we've had here."
Opposing pitchers often wanted nothing to do with the left-handed hitter. Dirienzo drew 25 walks during the regular season, which contributed to his .540 on-base percentage.
When he did get a pitch to hit, though, Dirienzo made it count. With the Sabers down, 3-1, in the fifth inning of a sectional semifinal against Cudahy, and Packers starting pitcher Joe Jagler trying to escape from a bases-loaded jam, Dirienzo struck.
After uncharacteristically swinging at two balls low in the strike zone to start the at-bat with an 0-2 count, Dirienzo ripped a bases-clearing double, catapulting the Sabers into the sectional finals.
Cudahy coach Mike Lessard knew Dirienzo was dangerous.
"I called timeout to let the boys know we're pitching around him even with bases loaded because we don't want their best guy to beat us," Lessard said.
But he did just that and his successful season continued, as Dirienzo was among the team leaders in hits, RBIs and runs during the three state tournament games.
"I just strive to be the best," Dirienzo said. "I'm trying to keep working to get better."
David Cotey contributed to this story.
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