Juggling softball and track worth it for Pettinato

By Mike Kilroy

Eagle Staff Writer

BUTLER TWP — Autumn Pettinato's father, Patrick, made a simple wager with his daughter two years ago.

“He bet me I couldn't throw a softball over the 50-yard-line,” Pettinato said.

Challenge accepted.

Then a freshman at Butler, Pettinato warmed up her arm while standing in the end zone at Art Bernardi Stadium during her brother's elementary track and field meet, picked up a softball and fired it.

It easily crossed the 50.

And her javelin career was born.

Yes, javelin career.

Pettinato, now a junior, was already a seasoned softball player. She had picked up a bat and glove the first time at the age of 3 and was hooked.

Track and field entered the equation much later — on that day when then-Butler throwing coach Harold Dunn Jr. saw her launch a softball 50 yards in perfect javelin-throwing form.

“She has great technique at it,” said Butler girls track and field coach John Williams. “Obviously, she has a love of both sports.”

Pettinato is showing that by participating in both — sometimes on the same day and at the same time.

“To be able to do this is amazing,” Pettinato said. “I've met so many good friends through it. I've learned responsibility to be there for the team.”

That isn't always easy.

At least one day a week — usually Thursday — Pettinato has to plan her itinerary down to the minute.

She has to plot a way to get from point A to point B and back again so she can throw the javelin and run a leg of the 3,200-meter relay for the Butler track and field team and also play shortstop and bat leadoff for the Golden Tornado softball team.

When both the softball game and track meet are at home, it's a bit easier.

When they are at two different sites, well, that can be a monumental challenge.

“It gets me stressed sometimes,” Pettinato said. “My mom (Amy) calms me down. I get panicky sometimes wondering if I'm going to make it, but when I get to the softball field my coach (Cait Baxter) and my teammates tell me, 'You got this. You made it.' And I feel better.”

Here is a typical dual-sport day for Pettinato, like the one she had at Fox Chapel on Thursday when the stars aligned for her to have a track meet and softball game at the same site:

At 1:30 p.m., she climbs on the track and field bus.

“I ride the track bus because we get out of school a half-hour earlier,” Pettinato said.

She runs the leg of the 3,200-meter relay and then makes her way down to the softball field.

Pettinato has learned how to change uniforms quickly.

“It's like a flip of the switch now,” she said.

On cold days, she wears her track uniform under her softball uniform.

After the softball game, she heads back to the track meet to throw the javelin. Depending on start times, she can occasionally throw the javelin before stepping on the diamond.

So far, there have been no hiccups — no taking a javelin out to shortstop or her glove to the track instead of a baton.

“Not yet,” Pettinato said, laughing. “It could happen.”

Despite splitting time between the two sports, Pettinato has been able to excel at both.

She runs on her own for track and field and has a javelin the school let her borrow to throw at home.

Pettinato broke 110 feet in the javelin at the Knoch Relays Saturday.

The state qualifying standard in Class AAA is 122 feet.

“She can get there,” Williams said.

“Kudos to both coaching staffs to share her,” he added.

Pettinato is not shy about putting in the time to hone her skills in both sports.

“Her work ethic is tremendous,” said first-year Butler softball coach Cait Baxter. “It definitely takes a lot of heart and dedication to do both. She's a leader on the softball team — the team voted her a captain as a junior. She plays shortstop. She's our leadoff batter. She does it all and she's having a great season for us and the track team. We're very happy for her.”