Personally, it couldn’t have ended better for Mondello – Revere resident helps lead St. Mary’s to a state championship

St. Mary’s players celebrate with coach Colleen Newbury after the game.

St. Mary’s players celebrate with coach Colleen Newbury after the game.

Story and Photos by Cary Shuman

Kristen Mondello had done it all during a superb career in the St. Mary’s High School (Lynn) softball program.

She was a three-year starting shortstop, a cleanup hitter, team captain, and Catholic Central League All-Star who led her team to a North sectional title and the state semifinals a year ago.

And last Saturday she added the most important honor of all to her resume: state champion. Sparked by her leadership, excellent defensive play, and clutch hitting, St. Mary’s won seven games in the 2009 State Tournament, culminating with a 8-5 win over Montachusett Tech in the Division 3 state final at Worcester State College.

Mondello was at her best in the big games, showcasing her smooth fielding skills and strong, accurate arm at what many consider the most important defensive position on the field.

Revere St Mary’s High School teammates, from left: Gabriella Cohan, Kristen Mondello, and Brianna Holmes.

Revere St Mary’s High School teammates, from left: Gabriella Cohan, Kristen Mondello, and Brianna Holmes.

“She’s come a long way,” said St. Mary’s coach Colleen Newbury. “She spent six years in our program, from freshman softball all the way through varsity. She’s worked very hard. Having played shortstop myself, there was a lot of pressure put on Kristen, because I’d tell her, ‘You have to do this and this.’ “She’s an excellent athlete and has great anticipation for the ball. We’re going to miss her leadership. I know the younger players on the team and their parents considered her a good role model for everyone.”

Mondello said she couldn’t have chosen a better conclusion to her six-year softball career at St. Mary’s.

“It’s awesome to win a state championship – a good way to end your last year,” said Mondello. “We had a really close-knit team, and we were with each other every day, four hours a day; and a lot of us are still friends off the field. I think it makes it a lot better when the team is close.”

Revere youth sports fans will remember Kristen Mondello soaring the ranks of the St. Mary’s Cal Ripken League. She started in T-Ball, and played baseball and softball, but moved over to softball exclusively at a young age. She was clearly one of the best players in her age group, and the aspiring infielder and future high school star helped manager Corrie Colarusso’s team win three championships in four years in the St. Mary’s League.

Mondello became a Revere Babe Ruth Softball All-Star and played a valuable role in her U-14 team winning a New England title in Connecticut.

Revere’s Kristen Mondello is shown after Saturday’s state championship game in Worcester with her aunt, Robin Giaquinto, grandfather, Bobby Giaquinto, her mother, Rhonda Mondello, and her brother, Michael Mondello.

Revere’s Kristen Mondello is shown after Saturday’s state championship game in Worcester with her aunt, Robin Giaquinto, grandfather, Bobby Giaquinto, her mother, Rhonda Mondello, and her brother, Michael Mondello.

She followed in her brother’s athletic footsteps at St. Mary’s. Mike Mondello was a hockey star at St. Mary’s, who is entering his senior season in the Suffolk University hockey program. And Mike and other family members looked on proudly Saturday as Kristen and the other St. Mary’s captains accepted the Division 3 state championship trophy after the game.

Six years after entering St. Mary’s Junior High School in the seventh grade, Kristen Mondello leaves as one of the school’s best softball players ever. She will attend Rivier College in Nashua, NH, but she’ll be hanging up her softball cleats to focus on her studies.

The St. Mary’s softball players will certainly miss her enthusiasm, her hardworking approach to the game, and their day-to-day relationship with her at practices.

“She’s a really good softball player,” said junior second baseman Kristina Burri of East Boston. “She’s hardworking, and it was fun to be her teammate for the past three years. She was a great captain, and the players respected her a lot.”

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