A-K Valley athletes of the week: Apollo-Ridge’s Mikaila Ditty, Knoch’s Zane Pacek

By: Ted Sarneso
Saturday, April 5, 2025 | 6:26 PM

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Mikaila Ditty

School: Apollo-Ridge

Class: Freshman

Sport: Softball

Claim to fame: On the mound, Ditty threw a five-inning no-hitter, walking none and striking out 11, as the Vikings (5-1) beat Leechburg, 11-0, in a nonsection matchup. Helping her own cause, she went 2 for 3 with a grand slam, a double and five RBIs.

What were your emotions after the game had finished?

I was very excited and very proud of myself and my team for working as one to get that big win. I was also grateful that my teammates had my back as well.

When did you realize that you had a no-hitter going?

I really never realized it. I locked in. It wasn’t until closer to the end that I realized I had a no-hitter. In the moment I wasn’t thinking about it.

Do you think you would have gone the full seven without allowing a hit?

I was tired towards the end of the game, but I knew my players had my back, so I think I could have thrown a complete game.

What was working for you in that game?

My changeup. Sometimes that pitch is hit or miss. But that day it was really working, and my catcher was doing a great job of knowing when to call for it and framing it, making sure it was going where it needed to.

What do you do to get focused before you head out to the mound to begin a game?

I usually take a deep breath and concentrate on what I need to do to make sure I’m throwing the right pitch at the right time and having the right movement. My teammates in the infield also give me high fives before I start the game, and it’s just sort of a routine that further helps me get in the right frame of mind.

Was that the most batters you’ve ever struck out in a game?

I’m not really sure what the most I’ve ever struck out in a game is. I’ve played a lot of games, but I think it might be the most, but I can’t say for sure.

You didn’t walk anyone, so did you allow a base runner?

There was a popup to the second baseman, and she wasn’t able to squeeze it, so I was that close to a perfect game.

Do you have the ball from the game?

Yes. It’s in my room with other balls that I have from other games.

Tell me about the grand slam.

It was a grand slam and my first home run in the high school season. My teammate, Olivia Saxion, also hit a home run that game, and we went back-to-back and the energy on our bench was amazing. Everyone was ecstatic.

How did it feel to drive in five runs and help the team in that way as well?

When I hit that ball, my heart was beating so fast. I was so happy to not only hit the home run but to also drive in all those runs.

What’s been a key to the team’s early success this season?

Our batting has been improving every game. Everyone is making solid contact with the ball. Our fielding has also been very good as well.

What were the team’s goals coming into the year?

Our goals were to go out and have fun and not stress. Not to get down on ourselves and have a clear mindset going into each game. Come to practice prepared and to get better every single day.

Is there an opponent you look forward to playing against the most?

Leechburg was the opponent I looked forward to playing the most because they’re good competition, and I like playing against them.

Is pitcher the only position you play?

I play first base, anywhere in the outfield and shortstop.

Which of those positions do you like playing the most?

Shortstop because they are the loudest person on the field, calling out plays and letting the other fielders know what’s going on in the game.

What individual goals did you set for yourself this season?

Don’t get in my head as much. I was very scared because everyone was expecting me to hit home runs coming into my high school career, and I wasn’t hitting or playing my best to start and my confidence took a hit. But since then, I’ve started to hit, and I feel a lot better about how I’m playing.

Do you have a favorite college softball team you like to watch?

I watch a lot of college softball, and my favorite team would be Duke.

What are some of your favorite hobbies?

Arts and crafts, listening to music, reading, riding my quad, going for runs or walks and going shopping.

Do you have a favorite subject in school?

History. I like learning about all the things that happened in the past and getting into why those things happened.

What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?

Probably my phone.

What song is guaranteed to get you dancing?

“Baby” by Justin Bieber.

If you were a superhero, what would your power be?

To make everyone happy and goofy because that’s who I am.

Zane Pacek

School: Knoch

Class: Junior

Sport: Baseball

Claim to fame: Pacek tossed a no-hitter against Greensburg Salem on March 31. He threw just 70 pitches and struck out four as the Knights (5-4, 1-1) went on to win 7-0 in a Section 3-4A matchup.

How were you feeling heading into the game on Monday?

I was feeling really good. I have also been doing some throwing on my own, getting prepared to go a whole game, which is what I like to do, go the full seven innings and have that longevity and endurance.

You worked very efficiently, 10 pitches an inning, and the game lasted only an hour and 26 minutes. What was working for you?

My fastball was going right by them, jamming them, and I was able to induce a lot of ground balls. I think there was only one flyball hit to the outfield.

How close were you to a perfect game?

I gave up three walks, so pretty close.

Were you aware of having a no-hitter, and did you start to feel any pressure to accomplish the feat?

In the last inning, I started to notice, because I heard guys whispering in the dugout, saying that they didn’t have a hit yet. There were a lot of ground balls right back to the mound in that last inning, and those are always stressful because you don’t want to throw the ball over the first baseman’s head. I was like, just make the play, don’t overthink it and throw strikes.

What did it feel like when that final out was recorded?

Big sense of relief. We won, it was our first section win and it was a good start for me and the team, and we’re going to look to keep the wins rolling.

Did you keep the ball?

My parents have the ball.

Obviously, you’re aware of the imposing figure you strike while out there. How much of a benefit is that to you, your size, stride and release point?

Being tall is a blessing and a curse. Sometimes if there’s a mound that isn’t long enough, sometimes I end up stepping off it. How many times has anyone faced a 7-foot pitcher? So it’s a different perspective for those hitters, and it’s the first time they’ve ever seen how I pitch. They don’t see the ball a lot and because of when I’m releasing it,

What were you looking to improve on coming into this season?

Locating my pitches and I wanted to work on my velocity. I throw pretty hard already, but I think I can throw harder and I feel I haven’t reached max velocity yet.

You’ve got quite a routine to keep your arm fresh and free from injury. What do you do, and where did your program come from?

My dad is a doctor, so I’ve always been taught that arm health is the most important thing. Anytime I pitch, I do a lot at home with weighted balls and stretching out my lower half and upper half. I use bands on my forearms, shoulders and to stretch out my lats, which is sorer after I throw than my actual arm, which is a good thing. I also have a PVC pipe that I put over my head to warm up my shoulders, which are very important for throwing.

What were your thoughts on how well the team performed against the Class 6A competition you guys faced early on?

What we learned from those games was we have to clean up our defense, which is usually what we struggle with. We’re a very good hitting team when we are putting the bat to the ball. Showing we can compete with those teams means that we can be a powerhouse and that people might be sleeping on us.

I’ve been told that you have an uncle that pitched in the majors.

Yes. He name is Jason Hammel. He played for the Orioles, Devil Rays, Rockies, Athletics, Cubs and Royals.

Has he given you any pitching advise or tips over the years?

Yes. Definitely. Just tips on how to focus on the mound, how to tune out the outside noise and focus on my pitching and not what the team is doing. He’s given me some pitch ideas, what to throw and when to throw those pitches as well as what grips to use. He’s taught me a lot about my mechanics as well.

What was his reaction to finding out you threw the no-hitter?

My mom texted him as soon as the game finished and he texted me on the bus ride back, saying “I heard you threw a no-no today. You know, I never threw one of those in high school.” I said, “Does that make me better than you?” and he laughed.

Favorite baseball team and/or player?

My favorite team would be either the Phillies or the Pirates because I really like Paul Skenes. My favorite player all time would be my uncle, but a current player would be Freddie Freeman.

What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?

Pitching. If I’m stressed, worried or not having a good day, I’ll just go out and throw to clear my head.

Do you have a favorite subject in school?

Math. It’s really just a bunch of patterns, and once you figure those out, it’s really easy and it’s cool how stuff works out.

What are some of your favorite hobbies?

There’s a pond at my house that I like to fish. I like shooting hoops and working out with my friends. I’ve been working on learning sign language. I was bored over the summer, and I saw people at a basketball game conversing and I thought it would be cool to learn something like that.

If you were a superhero, what would your power be?

Teleportation.

What would be your kryptonite?

Being too talkative.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Knoch