Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

Dennis Semrau

Wissports.net





"Dugout Chatter" is a behind the scenes look at your favorite prep baseball player.

 

Name: Joe Pignotti

School: Kenosha St. Joseph

Year: Senior

GPA: 3.72

Favorite subjects: AP Biology; AP Calculus

Position: Infield, pitcher

Other sports: football, basketball

I got my start in sports: playing tee-ball in kindergarten. I also played Pee Wee football and youth basketball.

I wish I could play: volleyball.

Baseball highlights: team captain and starter at first base as a senior for Lancers who won 2009 WIAA Division 3 state title … won Midwest Classic Conference title … three-time letterwinner who earned all-conference honors at first base as a senior and second-team all-league and third-team all-county honors as an infielder as a junior … started at second base and pitched as a sophomore … promoted to varsity for postseason as a freshman and served as pinch runner for 2006 WIAA Division 3 state championship team.

2009 stats: Lancers finished 19-9 overall, including 10-4 for first-place finish in the Midwest Classic Conference … batted .392 (31-for-79) with 26 runs, three doubles, one triple and 12 RBI … drew 14 walks, three hit-by-pitches and stole three bases … .456 slugging percentage.

Other sports highlights: three-time letterwinner and three-year starter in football at linebacker … also played running back … co-captain as a senior when he earned second-team all-conference and first-team all-county honors … also a three-time letterwinner and two-year starter at forward in basketball … earned second-team all-conference and all-county honors as a junior and senior.

This and that: member of National Honor Society … member of High Honor Roll all four years of high school … hobbies include fishing, water skiing, jet skiing, riding ATVs.

Team bonding moment: When we found out at school that we were still in the playoffs because of a forfeit by Racine St. Catherine s, all of the players went crazy. The next morning our practice was canceled by rain so we went to coach Jon Olson s house and watched a tape of the 2006 state playoffs. It was cool because the guys saw me on the tape when we won the state title.

Baseball superstitions: I wore my 2006 state baseball t-shirt under my uniform during the 2009 playoffs and when we won state.

My perfect day: sleep late, eat a big brunch, spend time on the lake, eat a nice dinner, go fishing at night and build a campfire and eat s mores.

I like playing baseball because: it s a sport that takes a strong mental approach to play.

Favorite athlete: Michael Jordan.

Favorite baseball player: Cal Ripken Jr.

Favorite baseball team: Chicago Cubs

Favorite movie: The Italian Job

Favorite baseball movie: A League of Their Own

Favorite TV shows: Everybody Loves Raymond; ESPN SportsCenter

Favorite meal: steak and shrimp

Favorite fast food: Wendy s

Favorite opponent: Shoreland Lutheran

Favorite web sites: Facebook; wissports.net

I get my news: newspaper; TV (TMJ-4)

Favorite place to visit: our cabin in northern Wisconsin

Baseball stadium I want to visit: Fenway Park in Boston

Dream Date: Taylor Swift

One word to describe me: relaxed

Nickname: Joe Pa

I wish I could meet: my late grandfather, Guido Pignotti, who died in 1973.

I can t live without: my family; my bed

Role models: my sisters, Gina and Julie.

My family also includes: parents, Richard and Lisa.

I drive: a 2003 Dodge Neon.

Dream car: a Ferrari

I like Kenosha St. Joseph High School because: of its small size and graduating class which lets you get to know everybody; its rich sports tradition.

On my IPod: Beatles; Temptations; Chicago; Eagles.

Fantasy: I wish I could play the piano or the guitar

Post-high school plans: attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison to study Zoology and Spanish.

Career goal: medical field, possibly dental school

Outlook on life: "Talk is cheap. Never underestimate your opponent."

 

Did you know? Joe followed in the footsteps of his sisters, who were three-sport athletes in volleyball, basketball and softball at St. Joe s.

 

If you have a prep baseball player you would like to read about, send your nomination to Dennis Semrau at: [email=dsemrau@madison.com]dsemrau@madison.com[/email] or (608) 513-5550.