There are many reasons that Marist junior Soleil Tate loves softball more than any other sport she has played. One of the biggest, however, has nothing to do with pitching or hitting. It’s the chants in the dugout. “I love cheering,” she said. “It’s my favorite part of the game. It’s a g reat way to hype up your team. There was a time when my dad told me not to cheer anymore because I would tire myself out.” This season, though, one thing can be shouted out loud and clear. When it comes to Tate pitching for the RedHawks, the Wisconsin recruit will be the team’s ace. As a sophomore, Tate was part of a staff that included seniors Gianna Hillegonds (Bradley) and Mari Jarmoszka (Carnegie Mellon). Now, the ball belongs to Tate, with varsity newcomers in junior Jenna Manfre and freshman Savannah Jones in the mix to help out. Junior pitcher Soleil Tate talks about her role as the staff ace during a practice at the Marist SportsPlex in Palos Heights on Monday, March 3, 2026. (Tony Baranek / Daily Southtown) “I feel good,” Tate said. “It’s sad that we lost our pitchers from last year, but it’s exciting to be recognized as No. 1 in my third season.” Truth be told, however, Tate has been an impact player right from the start at Marist. As a freshman, she hit .354 with nine home runs and 38 RBIs. She had a key hit in a supersectional victory over Lincoln-Way Central. In the circle, she went 10-2 with a 1.03 ERA. Last season saw a big leap on offense, with a .446 average and 51 RBIs. Her pitching time also increased, with a 17-3 record and a 0.80 ERA. Marist's Soleil Tate (23) swings at a pitch against Lemont during a nonconference game in Chicago on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Talia Sprague / Daily Southtown) When she wasn’t pitching, she was the DH. When she was in the dugout, she was cheering — and watching. “I guess there were times when I felt, ‘I should be in there,'” Tate said. “But then I sat back and thought about how much I could learn from Gianna. It was a time for me to get better and learn how to be an ace. “It’s not just about your pitching style. It’s about your command on the mound with all of your teammates. Me, ‘G’ and Mari all had a great relationship. We had a talking circle, although there was some friendly competition.” She soaked in a lot. Tate’s pitching philosophy is pretty deep. Marist's Soleil Tate (23) delivers a pitch against Joliet Catholic during a nonconference game in Joliet on Monday, April 15, 2024. (Talia Sprague / Daily Southtown) “When I’m in the circle, it’s not just about the next pitch,” she said. “If I’m in a game where I can’t strike everybody out, I think about what spin can get me a ground ball or a line drive to Layla (Peters) at first base because I know she can catch it. “But also, sometimes you have to not be serious about yourself. You can get too much in your head thinking about, ‘Oh, how did I do on that?’ You have to put it away as quickly as the ball fell over the fence.” Marist coach Colleen Phelan loves — and appreciates — Tate’s attitude. “Soleil has always been just the ultimate team player,” Phelan said. “Her and Gianna were very good friends. We were so fortunate to have both of them. I think she was totally OK with sharing the pitching because she really liked to hit, too. “Soleil was our No. 4 hitter. She was our power. She was our spunk in the dugout as the cheer starter. Whether it’s in the circle, the box or in the dugout, she’s just a remarkable young lady.” Marist's Soleil Tate (23) swings at a pitch against Joliet Catholic during a nonconference game in Joliet on Monday, April 15, 2024. (Talia Sprague / Daily Southtown) And tough? Michigan-bound junior catcher Lexi Kyros learned about that early on. “My freshman season we were at Pontiac,” Kyros said. “We were going to find to a place to warm up and we were hopping a fence. Soleil tried to jump the fence and caught her pants. “When she got up, her pants were ripped. We were all worried but Soleil didn’t care. She got some duct tape, put on a pair of spandex under it and pitched amazing that day. She’s so resilient.” And ready for anything. Well, almost anything. When she’s driving up to Wisconsin to start her college career, Tate won’t be stopping at one of its most famous food places. “I’m allergic to dairy,” Tate said, laughing. “Technically, I can’t eat cheese. So I’m going to the cheese state and I can’t eat it.” Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. ...read more read less