Ever since Eli Fratesi, the Planters Bank Player of the Week, put on a Washington School uniform, he has always played with a fearless mentality.
“Even as an eighth grader, he was never scared, and the moment was never too big for him,” Washington School coach Hunter Palasini said.
Fratesi is now a senior and one of Washington’s main leaders this season. As a center fielder, Fratesi helps anchor his team’s defense. As a pitcher, Fratesi is one of the most steady arms on the team.
Fratesi’s value to his teammates was revealed, once again, during his team’s spring break visit last week to play in the Biloxi Invitational.
In the Generals’ 5-3 victory over Hatley last Tuesday, Fratesi combined with pitcher Patrick Spencer for a no-hit victory. Fratesi, the starting pitcher, allowed zero hits over five innings, striking out seven.
Then, on Wednesday, Fratesi drew a walk in the bottom of the eighth inning to bring home the winning run in the Generals’ 8-7 win over Ethel. Fratesi also had a hit and scored a run in the game.
Coach Palasini said Fratesi has the talent and the work ethic to play college baseball and his hoping his star center fielder gets some looks from college scouts this spring.
Like all teams playing in MAIS this season, the Washington Generals have had their season put on hold because of the coronavirus. Coach Palasini said he hopes his team will be back on the field in the next few weeks, and one of the main reasons for this is so that players like Fratesi will be able to finish their final seasons of high school baseball.
“I am sure hoping that we will get to play again, especially for guys like Eli,” Coach Palasini said.
Now in his eighth season at the helm, Palasini has seen pretty much nothing but success in his tenure. The Generals won the state championship in 2017, made it to the state championship game three other times and reached three other state semifinals.
“We always have the same goal,” Coach Palasini said. “We first focus on winning the district and the conference, and then we move on to the state title. Nothing changes this season.
If the Generals are going to have similar success in 2020, the coach said they will need the steady leadership of the four seniors; Caleb Janous, Eli Fratesi, John Franklin Ingram and Will Giachelli.
