‘It’s not even a question, I want wins’

Some people make the hardest things in sports look easy. Mark Castellitto is clearly one of those people, if you've see him take an at-bat.

Castellitto has been tearing up the competition the last few weeks — he hit .558 with four home runs, 13 RBIs, and scored 11 runs in just four games against Utah Valley and Washington State. His strong play made him the West Coast Conference Rawlings Player of the Week as well as the Pro-Line Athletic National Player of the Week, which is decided by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

But Castellitto does not care about the individual awards; he wants to get this year's younger and streakier Zags team to play like the WCC Championship team of 2009.
Castellitto says that when it comes to having success  as  a team or receiving individual recognition, it's not a tough decision.

"[It's] not even a question [of what I'd prefer, wins or individual awards], I want wins," Castellitto said. "Being on last year's team and winning a WCC championship was by far the highlight of my baseball career. Just to be a part of that and to be able to help the team out was great.  I'm hoping to do the same thing this year, regardless of any individual accolades or anything of that nature, I'd much rather take home another WCC Championship."

On top of being focused on the baseball field, Castellitto was also on the Academic All-American team last year, and graduated last spring. He plans on completing his MBA from Gonzaga's Graduate School of Business by August.

"That's what we're looking for, that's what we're all about," Head Coach Mark Machtolf said. "At Gonzaga we're all about the student-athlete and we really harp on doing a good job in the classroom, competing just like we do on the field."

Before Castellitto came to Gonzaga, he had to make the decision of leaving sunny Poway, Calif., to come and play in Spokane, a place that rarely touches 50 degrees at night before May. But the right combination of academics, atmosphere, and team philosophy lured Castellitto to the Inland Northwest.

Machtolf is happy that Castellitto made the trip north instead of playing for WCC rivals Loyola Marymount and Saint Mary's — two programs that were actively recruiting the slugger.

"He played in a very good league and put up huge numbers in high school," Machtolf said. "Some guys can just hit and he's proven everywhere he's gone that he can put up numbers and be a good hitter."

Perhaps the key to Castellitto's success at the plate is the mindset that he brings, which he claims never changes.

"I try and bring the same mindset whether I'm doing well, or not so well," he said. "I like to keep it simple, keep it vague, be confident when I go up there, and stick with my plan. I just look to be tough up there."

Castellitto is hoping to take that mindset to the next level if the opportunity presents itself, but as of now, he's focusing on winning another WCC Championship before leaving Gonzaga.

"I'm just going to school, playing baseball, and whatever happens, happens," Castellitto said. "All I can do is control what is going on when I'm on the field, and that's what I'm trying to do."

But Machtolf hopes that if Castellitto keeps doing just that, he'll find a place at the next level. Machtolf has had 11 players go on to play professional ball.

"He has power and he's a left fielder, but I don't try and predict what pro scouts think, I know they miss on a lot of very good players," Machtolf said. "I think he can play at the next level, he just has to hit, and they'll find a spot for him."