WPIAL Alum Q&A – Giorgiana Zeremenko
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Tuesday, May 10, 2016 | 1:02 AM
Giorgiana Zeremenko made headlines in helping guide Canon-McMillan to softball gold multiple times during her high-school career. Now playing at the University of Pittsburgh, Zeremenko has put herself in the record books with an incredible season for the Panthers. She is the focus of the latest installment of the WPIAL Alum Q&A.
Zeremenko wasted no time in contributing for the Big Macs, as she earned All-District honors as a freshman, and was also named Canon-McMillan’s defensive MVP in 2011.
The following season, she was instrumental in guiding her team to the Class Quad-A WPIAL Championship, a 4-1 victory over Hempfield Area. It marked the first softball title in school history.
As a junior, Zeremenko and the Big Macs not only repeated at WPIAL champs, but they also captured PIAA gold. Zeremenko collected four RBI, including a three-run homer, in her squad’s 5-2 win against North Allegheny for the district crown. A few weeks later, the Big Macs captured a thrilling 4-3 victory in 12 innings against Neshaminy.
The Big Macs finished as WPIAL runners-up in 2014, but Zeremenko concluded her tenure with Canon-McMillan as a four-time All-WPIAL performer, as well as First Team All-State honoree.
Zeremenko continued her academic and athletic careers at the University of Pittsburgh, and she played in 44 games, including 14 starts, as a freshman for the Panthers. She primarily was utilized as a catcher and a pinch hitter, and she batted .217 with three home runs and 11 RBI.
Pitt finished 37-22, and for the first time ever, the Panthers reached the ACC Championship Game, as well as the NCAA Regional Final.
This campaign, Zeremenko has become a dominant slugger. The sophomore has blasted a school record 17 homers in 49 games, and compiled a robust .393 batting average and 52 runs batted in. At the same time, she has shifted primarily to the outfield.
Heading into the ACC tournament later this week, the Panthers are 31-20.
Giorgiana took time from her schedule to discuss her rapid ascension with the Panthers, her successful tenure at Canon-McMillan, and the furthest home run she has ever hit.
Q: The improvement in your batting statistics from your freshman year to this season has been incredible. What have been the biggest factors in your development at the plate?
A: The biggest factors in my development at the plate were fixing my stance and being confident.
Q: What does it mean to you to be Pitt’s all-time leader in home runs for a season?
A: I think that breaking the single-season home run record is a great accomplishment, but it’s my coaches and teammates record, too. They’re the ones that push me to be better every day. I still have a lot of things to work on and get better at.
Q: Does most of your power come when pulling the ball, or have you used all parts of the field on your long balls?
A: Most of my home runs have been on inside pitches, so I haven’t had to pull the ball a lot. I have just been able to make the most of the pitches I’ve been given.
Q: You have already played numerous positions in your two seasons with the Panthers. Has there been any difficulties in moving around, and which position do you prefer?
A: I’m the most comfortable at catcher because I have played there since I was 8 years old. The move to left field was hard for me because I never really had to catch long fly balls or get to a hard shot in the gap. It’s hard for me to judge balls off the bat. It is just a lot different than catching.
Q: The Panthers have enjoyed back-to-back impressive campaigns. What has been the biggest reason for the team’s success last year and this year?
A: I think a major reason for our success over the past two years would be our team chemistry. We know that we all have each other’s backs and we have nothing to lose. Knowing that and having that mindset is very comforting.
Q: Where has been your favorite road venue and why?
A: My favorite road venue was when we went to Michigan for NCAA Regionals. The atmosphere of that stadium was amazing, with all the people that were there and the experience we had. It was a dream come true for me, and that made it even more special.
Q: What led to your decision to attend Pitt?
A: Academic reasons are what led me to my decision of coming to Pitt. I was very interested in the Exercise Science program. I also liked the city feel it has and that I’m close to my family.
Q: What was your favorite memory from Canon-McMillan?
A: My favorite memory from Canon Mac was winning the state championship my junior year. Not only because we won, but I got to do it with some of my best friends that I’ve played with my entire life.
Q: What did it mean to you to be part of such a successful run for the Big Macs?
A: The team I was a part of in high school was the same team I played with since I started fast pitch. Coach Moskal was also our coach from the beginning. So to see where we started at and to see all of the accomplishments we made as a team and share it with special people was awesome.
Q: Which team was the best opponent you faced in the WPIAL?
A: The best opponent we played in the WPIAL was the Shaler Titans. They were the only team we had ever lost to in the postseason during my four years at Canon Mac.
Q: What is your major and ideal future profession?
A: I am an exercise science major and I plan to be a health and physical education teacher or go into physical therapy.
Q: What is your favorite site/landmark to see at campus?
A: It’s really hard to pick a favorite site on campus. I would say it’s a tie between the Cathedral of Learning and the skyline of the city you can see from our field.
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: My favorite food is anything from Chipotle.
Q: Do you have any vacation plans for the summer? If not, where is your favorite past vacation spot?
A: I currently don’t have any vacation plans, but my favorite vacation was when my family and I went to Disney World. I’m a little kid at heart, so it’s fitting for me.
Q: What was the furthest ball that you recall ever hitting?
A: The furthest ball I have ever hit, that I can remember, was the third home run I hit against St. Francis this season. The ball cleared the left field wall and cleared a facilities building that is also out there.
Tags: Canon-McMillan
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