Athlete Spotlight: James Wood Softball Player Taylor Rizzari

Posted: March 31, 2015

James Wood High School 17-year-old senior

Sport: Softball

Position: Outfielder

Parents: Jackie and Scott Rizzari

Hometown: Antioch, Calif. (moved to Winchester in 2003)

Nicknames: My parents call me “Tato bug.” Mashed potatoes was about the only thing I would eat when I was little. And my teammates call me “Ginger” because I’m the only one on the team with red hair.

What do you love about softball: Developing chemistry with the team, especially this year. We’re really young, and I just like building the bond with the team.

Biggest strength and weakness in softball: [Strength], my defense and my arm strength. Over the past two years those things have gotten a lot better. [Weakness], trying to stay positive after we lose a game.

Pregame routine/ritual: I have to straighten my hair, and I have to wear my white hair bow, and my visor. My first game this year I was 2 for 4 with straight hair, and then the next game I had curly hair and I went 0 for 4. So I was like, ‘I need to start keeping the same routine every game.’

Most memorable moment in softball: My sophomore year when we shut out [top seed] Skyline in the [Northwestern] district championship 7-0. A lot of people doubted us, and we trumped everyone’s expectations. They were the chosen team, and we didn’t let them score.

Most embarrassing moment in softball: I was playing at a tournament over the summer when I was a freshman [with the Shenandoah Valley Mavericks], and my shortstop told me I had room to run to catch a ball. I ran straight into the fence and bounced off of it. Once I got up and knew I was OK my teammates started laughing, and I started laughing.

Favorite athlete: My twin sister Danielle (who plays basketball for James Wood). Her work ethic in basketball inspired me to work harder at my game too.

Favorite sports team: Washington Nationals

Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: My grandfather on my dad’s side John Rizzari; I never got to meet him, and when he was alive he was really involved in the community, particularly with sports. [Actor and comedian] Bill Hader; I love to laugh, and he always makes me laugh, and I always watch him on “Saturday Night Live.” And [author] Gayle Foreman; she’s the author of my favorite book ‘If I Stay,’ so I’d love to talk to her about that.

Most interesting person you follow on social media: There’s an account I follow [@LadyVol_Sftball on Twitter]. They always update me on stats for the University of Tennessee. Whenever I go on Twitter that’s the first page I go to look at.

Best live sporting event you’ve been to: The Team USA softball game I went to over the summer in Purcellville. I got to see [pitcher] Jackie Traina — she just graduated from Alabama. She threw 75 [mph], so it was amazing seeing it in person, rather than watching on ESPN. It was cool seeing it live. And I got to take a selfie with Jackie Traina, and that was cool showing it to all my friends. They all got jealous.

Plans after college: I’m going to Lord Fairfax [Community College] for two years, then I want to transfer to a four-year university and study marine biology, then get a degree in mammalogy. I love killer whales. They’re really interesting to me.

— Compiled by Robert Niedzwiecki