*This article was originally published on Alberta Dugout Stories on March 27. You can read it here.

March 30, 2024

By Joe McFarland

Alberta Dugout Stories

All Jaxon Zanolli wants to do is win.

Heading into his sophomore season at the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D., the product of Olds wanted to get that first victory of his collegiate career.

After being snake-bitten coming out of the bullpen for most of his freshman season, he had to wait until his fourth start to get it done.

Using a combination of fastballs and breaking balls that stayed in the strike zone, Zanolli allowed just two runs on three hits and four walks while striking out eight batters in five innings of work in the Marauders’ 13-2 triumph over Concordia-St. Paul on March 15.

His hard work and perseverance had paid off.

“It felt like a thousand pounds got lifted off my shoulders,” he told Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast. “All the pressure I was putting on myself internally was gone and it just felt really good.”

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Listen to Alberta Dugout Stories interview Jaxon Zanolli here.

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Taking it all in stride, the 19-year-old hopes the win becomes the first of many as he takes aim at some lofty goals for 2024 and beyond.

EARLY VICTORIES

A rising star in Alberta who first started capturing attention by being named the Baseball Alberta 13U ‘AA’ Player of the Year in 2017, Zanolli enjoyed a lot of success in the early going of his career.

A multi-sport athlete who tried every sport just like his father, the Olds Spitfires product decided to chase his baseball dream at St. Joseph’s Academy in Red Deer with head coach Jason Chatwood.

It was at that point that he realized he had a future in the game and feels fortunate to have been able to do it with what he calls a “special family.”

“I owe a lot to that program – I wouldn’t be here without them,” Zanolli said. “I have life-long friends and memories from that program that I will cherish for the rest of my life.”

The doors opened for him to play baseball on some elite stages including for Baseball Alberta at the 2022 Canada Summer Games, which helped him land a commitment to UMary.

LEARNING FROM LOSSES

Zanolli’s first season with the Marauders was mostly spent in the bullpen as he went 0-1 with one save and an 8.46 earned-run average in 12 appearances, including one start.

It came April 30 against Minot State, where he was unfortunately tagged for six runs and eight hits in a little more than three innings of work as the Marauders lost 9-7.

While it didn’t go exactly as he had hoped, Zanolli was able to take an early moment to enjoy another first in his baseball journey.

“It was definitely a lot of emotions going into it,” he said. “But at the end of the day, it’s just a game so I tried to soak it all in when I first got onto the mound then tried to dial it in as soon as I stepped on that rubber.”

While the season had its challenges, Zanolli did strike out 25 batters in a little more than 27 innings of work, while issuing 13 walks.

Knowing he had more in the tank, he headed home to refine his craft.

LIFE ON THE LAKE

Since joining the Western Canadian Baseball League in 2021, the Sylvan Lake Gulls have been known to carry a few local products on their roster.

Zanolli was the benefactor of that in 2023 as he made 13 appearances for them, including three starts, going 3-0 with one save and a 2.59 ERA.

He also continued on his strikeout per inning pace with 33 Ks in 31 1/3 innings.

The summer season gave Zanolli some added confidence heading into his second college season stateside, where he was tabbed to be part of the Marauders’ starting rotation.

However, things again didn’t quite pan out as he had hoped, as he had two no-decisions and a loss in his first three outings.

Instead of getting down on himself, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound hurler looked for silver linings.

“I try to take the positives out of every outing, even the bad ones,” Zanolli said. “When I focus on the positives, I know I’m doing good things and it’s not all bad. It’s never all bad.”

That mindset helped immensely as he put his head down, worked hard and earned that first win.

LIVING IN THE MOMENT

If Zanolli has it his way, this is just the beginning of his wins.

He admits he had some lofty expectations of himself heading into 2024 after what he thought was a good year where he stayed healthy and threw a lot of innings – 59 in total between UMary and Sylvan Lake.

“I want to throw 65-plus innings as a starter this year,” Zanolli stated.

“I want to be named to an All-Conference Team and I want to get a start in our conference tournament and I want to help us win a conference championship.”

He says the Marauders have the tools to make it happen this year, with an offence that has been powered by the strong play of Lethbridge’s Kalem Haney and Saskatchewan’s Carter Beck.

Then Zanolli plans to head back home again to suit up for the Gulls, where he says he has some unfinished business after a strong 2023 came up just short with the team falling to the eventual champion Okotoks Dawgs in the West Division final.

While the team looks different than it did a season ago, he says he likes the make up of the team.

“I really want to bring that championship home and get the first one for Sylvan Lake,” Zanolli said. “I think that would be a special feeling.”

While he has big dreams, he’s also careful to not get ahead of himself.

It’s a key piece of advice the southpaw has had to learn and one that he’s also quick to pass along to young athletes looking to follow in his footsteps.

“You don’t ever want to be looking too far ahead because then you get caught up thinking about that and you’re not where your feet are,” Zanolli said. “Just live in the moment and do what you can in that moment.”

As always, it’s one win at a time.