Isabel Cunnea has played a big role in Marist’s success over the past two seasons.
Aside from playing impressive defense in left field, the Northwestern recruit has hit 23 home runs and driven in a whopping 102 runs.
She has done everything except pitch. At least not yet.
It’s on her radar, though.
“This season, I’m going to be dusting the arm off,” Cunnea said. “We have three strong pitchers, but you can always use more. We have a lot of games, especially in the cold.
“Maybe I can help save the other girls’ arms.”
Marist coach Colleen Phelan is going to give her senior standout a shot.
“Ha-ha, yeah, absolutely,” Phelan said. “I just told her we’re going to ease her in. We have three returning pitchers as well, but we’ll give Izzy an inning here and there at the beginning and work her endurance up.”
Call her a bonus ace in the hole.
What Cunnea does on a regular basis in left field, however, is pretty valuable.
A right-handed hitter, she bats primarily out of the third or fourth spot in the order. The home runs are a testimony to her power, but she also finds the gaps and has speed on the bases.
And she has a definite knack for making the big play.
In the 2021 Class 4A state championship game against Lincoln-Way Central, Cunnea sprinted to the left field foul line to make the final catch and preserve a 3-1 victory.
Last season, she hit two home runs in a supersectional win over Lincoln-Way Central and drove in both runs in the state championship game against St. Charles North.
“Izzy is an absolute competitor, a fierce competitor, a tough kid,” Phelan said. “She wants it bad for this team. She brings a spark and an energy to our practices every single day.
“She also has a great little sense of humor to her. She’s kind of like the jokester as well. But she fires people up. People want to play for her, and I think she’s going to be a great senior leader for us.”
After practice, Cunnea often takes it to yet another level.
“She really is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever coached in my life,” Phelan said. “I leave the field to go home to my family, and Izzy is still out here hitting. I tell her, ‘Lock it up, girl.’
“Her and Camryn Lyons, they live in the same neighborhood. I saw one time when I was leaving they were working sprints. So they were not only working on their hitting, they were working on their speed as well.”
Lyons, who is vying for an outfield spot this season, can attest to Cunnea’s drive — and driving ability.
“When I made varsity sophomore year, she was one of the first people to come up and welcome me with open arms,” Lyons said. “She would tell me, ‘Don’t have your parents pick you up. I’ll drive you home.’
“She drove me to school every single day and she still does. She’s one of the most outgoing people and a great leader for this team.”
She’s also ready for her newest challenge.
Cunnea was a pitcher in travel ball until she was 12 years old. She didn’t pitch again until summer 2022, when she was the backup for her travel team.
“We only had one pitcher,” Cunnea said, smiling. “So my coach was like, ‘You can pitch, I guess.’ I pitched maybe three innings. I liked being back on the mound. I like pressure situations.”
So did Brooke McNichols and Abby Dunning, who pitched Marist to its last two state final appearances.
“Oh, I am nowhere close to Brooke or Abby,” Cunnea said, laughing. “I’ll just try to do what I can do.”