Friends’ Central’s Lucca Frattone is Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week
The junior hurler struck out 19 batters in his first 19 1/3 innings this season, with a 0.828 WHIP. He pitched a five-hitter against a strong Neumann Goretti team, and fired a two-hitter vs. one of the top teams in Ohio, Olentangy-Liberty. Last year, as a sophomore, he pitched in the Carpenter Cup championship semifinals at Citizens Bank Park and received All-Main Line and All-Friends’ Schools League baseball honors. Off the field at Friends’ Central, he is a member of the Quaker Youth Leadership Conference Leadership Team, Student Admission Committee and Investment Club.
Q: What was your most memorable experience with the Carpenter Cup team?
A: Playing on the Carpenter Cup team was an amazing experience. I got to play with and against some of the top players in the region, including many of my Friends’ Central teammates. In the quarter-finals, I was fortunate to pitch the final three innings of our 2-0 victory over Del North, helping our Inter-Ac/Independent team advance. Then in the semi-finals, I got to pitch at Citizens Bank Park, coming into the game in relief with Dan Baker announcing me. It was an experience that I will never forget, and I have remained friends with several of my teammates from that team.
Q: What do you consider your best pitch?
A: I believe my changeup is my best pitch, as I have learned to use it as a pitch that sets the table for the rest of my arsenal.
Q: What do you think has been your best outing of the season so far, and why?
A: I think my outing against the Ohio team was my best of the season. We were in Myrtle Beach for Spring Break, playing six games over six days, so I really needed to be efficient and go the distance in order to save arms. I was able to keep my pitch count to 57 pitches through six innings, throwing 69 percent strikes, against a very talented team.
Q: As a pitcher, after facing a hitter a couple of times in a game, you probably have a better idea of what to throw him late in a game. Can you give us an example of how this has worked in your favor?
A: My pitching coach, Charlie Longen, does a fantastic job of scouting hitters and their tendencies. We tend to put a plan in place pre-game and stick to it.
Q: What aspect of your pitching did you work on most during the off-season?
A: I’ve always had pretty good command, so this off-season I really focused on getting stronger and more explosive in an effort to increase velocity. I spent two weeks in Florida training at the Florida Baseball ARMory.
Q: Tell us a little about your start in baseball. Who have been your most influential baseball mentors, and what was the most important thing you learned from each of them?
A: I’ve been extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with and learn from a broad group of coaches and mentors. First and foremost, my Friends’ Central coaches, starting with Coach [Jon] Rubin who emphasizes competing every moment in every game, as well as my pitching coaches Charlie Longen and Mike Vasturia, who have worked with me to learn different ways to attack hitters, each of whom I respect and admire. Also, Justin Hanley, my first pitching coach, who taught me to pitch when I was 10 and who I continue to work with today. Justin taught me the importance of command and location, and not putting too much emphasis on velocity at a young age. Finally, Dan Hennigan, who taught me to have confidence in myself and helped me create a mindset that I replicate every time I pitch.
Q: What is your favorite ballpark and why?
A: Citizens Bank Park. In addition to being the home of the Phillies, every time I go to a game there now I remember my experience of pitching there in the Carpenter Cup.
Q: Tell us a little about your pre-game preparation the day of a game.
A: I always try to do the same pre-game routine when I pitch. I always drink a yellow Red Bull, and then listen to a playlist of specific songs on my way to the fields.
Q: What is your favorite academic course at Friends’ Central? What do you think you might like to major in at college?
A: My science courses over my three years at Friends’ Central have been my favorites – I really enjoy the subject matter we cover. For college, I have been looking into studying data analytics, business, finance and entrepreneurship.
Fun facts – Lucca Frattone
Favorite book: In Cold Blood.
Favorite TV show: Cobra Kai.
Favorite movie: Rocky.
Favorite athlete: Tyresse Maxey.
Favorite pre-game pump-up song: Fix You by Coldplay.
Favorite team: Sixers.
Favorite place to visit: “The Jersey Shore.”
Favorite pre-game meal: Yellow Red Bull.
Person I most admire, and why: Mahatma Gandhi.
Family members: parents Michael and Heather, sister Anabelle.
(To be selected as Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by his coach.)
