Gennifer Kazmierczak would be on the short list if you were to name the best softball player to have ever suited up for the Middies. Her coach Gary Neumann called her the best high school hitter, boys or girls, he had ever seen. She batted over 700 her freshman year and sustained averages near that throughout her career.
Genny’s team her freshman year was the first team in school history to reach the regional tournament. Defeating Admiral King 20-3, Berea 13-3, North Ridgeville 7-6, Amherst 5-4 and losing to Brecksville 7-11. They finished with a record of 17-3. She was the team’s MVP and had the highest batting average. A typical performance was in a 14-8 win over Southview when she had a double and a triple with 3 rbi’s and was the winning pitcher.
Genny was first team All-Conference and All-County, her sophomore year and won the ‘Golden Bat Award”. Her junior year was dejauvu all over again. She had the team’s highest batting average and was first team All Conference and All-County.
In a game against North Ridgeville in her senior year, Genny had 3 hits including a triple and a home run and was the winning pitcher in relief. She had 6 hits and was the winning pitcher in a 36-2 rout of Oberlin. She had a triple and a home run and 3 singles, in a 12-2 win over Brookside.
Gennifer Kazmierczak was a four year letter winner, leading her team in hitting all four years and was 1983 honorable mention All-Conference and 1984, 85 and 86 First Team All Conference. She was first team All Lorain County and won the 1984 Golden Bat and 1983, 85 and 86 MVP awards. She was a competitor at the highest level and was a team leader and inspiration to all who played with her.
Gennifer Nacarato works for Rural Water Authority and lives in LaGrange Twp. with her husband, Paul and their two children.