Junior Gabi Novickas has made a name for herself at Marist as one of the Southland’s most prolific power hitters.
The Georgia recruit also has developed a reputation as an excellent defender who plays third base with cat-like proficiency.
That’s not what she envisioned herself as a 10-year-old playing youth softball.
“Originally, I was a pitcher,” Novickas said, laughing. “And I was a pretty darned good pitcher, I must say. But for some reason, one day I woke up and I couldn’t throw a strike.”
Needless to say, the 2024 Daily Southtown Softball Player of the Year is living the dream now as one of the best hitters to wear a RedHawks uniform.
This season, Novickas batted .471 with 48 runs, 14 doubles, 19 home runs and 61 RBIs. She earned all-state and all-conference honors, helping lead Marist to second place in Class 4A.
“It felt amazing just to get the opportunity to go to state again,” Novickas said. “In the moment, when we took second, it stung a little bit taking the loss. But when you look back at the season, I have nothing but great things to say.
“Everyone put in the hard work. Everyone was out there. We laughed at practice, had fun and played loose. I know on that bus ride back home, I was proud of my teammates.”
Novickas has come through for Marist throughout her varsity career. When Novickas was a freshman, coach Colleen Phelan used her primarily as a pinch hitter.
“She was fantastic at that,” Phelan said. “It’s a hard thing to do, but she’d come in and shoot balls all over the field.”
Phelan also installed Novickas as an understudy to senior third baseman Kaitlyn Wright.
The pitching ship had long sailed.
“Haha, yeah, I coached her when she was 10 and I’ll never forget it,” Phelan said. “One day her dad was like, ‘You’ve got to look at her. We don’t know what’s going on.’
“For no apparent reason, she couldn’t throw it over 40 mph. I had no idea why. I just looked at her dad and said, ‘I’ve got nothin’ for you.’ It’s quite funny because of the way it all worked out.”
Novickas took over at third base as a sophomore, batting .446 with 18 home runs. She was part of a record-setting group of hitters at Marist who combined for 93 home runs.
“Last year’s team was so unbelievable,” Novickas said. “There aren’t many words to describe it. We had so much power. It’s really fun to hit a home run and come home to your cheering teammates.”
On Tuesday, Novickas was one of the instructors at Marist’s annual youth summer camp. It brought about a reunion with another of the big hitters from 2023, current Illinois freshman Eileen Donahue.
“Eileen wasn’t just an inspiration on the field but as a person overall,” Novickas said. “She was a huge vocal leader who would always pick you up when you’re down. To this day, we still come up to the field and hit together.”
Another inspiration was Northwestern freshman Isabel Cunnea, who hit 23 home runs for Marist in 2023.
“Just seeing how she worked and her attitude toward the game was inspirational,” Novickas said. “It helped me in my game this year, especially because I am one of the upperclassmen.
“I had to help the freshmen adjust to varsity play.”
She did a pretty good job inspiring the older girls around her as well.
Junior outfielder Bree Hanik, a Penn State recruit, loved the enthusiasm.
“There is just a little fire that sparks in Gabi,” Lyons said. “And then it sparks in all of us like, ‘Oh, Gabi’s hyped? Let’s get hyped, too.’ And her talent is… just crazy. But she’s one of the hardest workers I know, so it’s not a shocker.”
Boston University-bound senior outfielder Camryn Lyons isn’t worried about passing the baton.
“Gabi has all the intangibles and all the physical ability to be the amazing player that she is,” Lyons said. “She’s always focused. She’s always driven. She’ll always do what’s best for Marist.”
Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
