After winning two league titles, two section titles, one regional and one state title, Sami Blackman is gearing up for her last softball season of her high school career. Sami started off playing tee-ball in kindergarten and has been playing softball ever since. What’s kept her in the sport for so long is her love for her team. When the girls are together, “there is so much energy and laughter that it can brighten up anyone’s day.” They have a bond like no other, Sami explains. On the bus rides to games, they always sing songs (many of them being from Pitch Perfect).
One of Sami’s funniest memories is last year for the state championship weekend, when the team stayed at a hotel where each room found bugs! Now, the team refers to the hotel as the “roach motel.” They moved hotels three times that weekend and Sami states that “none of us will ever forget that hotel or the journey in general”. In order to get to the state championships last year, the team had to win the semifinals first. At the 2019 state semifinals game, Sami threw the ball from left field to Gianna Musca at third who then put the tag down to end the game 6-5 Ardsley. Without Sami’s throw, the team may not have won the game and advanced to the finals. Another proud moment of her career was in her sophomore year when they played in the section finals game--which they were projected to lose. The score was 2-1 Ardsley when Sami was in right field while runners were on second and third. The batter hit the ball right up the foul line, and Sami made a diving catch and threw to home to save the runs from scoring. “The crowd was cheering” Sami explained, “and it was the greatest feeling ever.”
Sami is a utility player on the team; she plays where she is needed. However she is mainly an outfielder. Before every game she always has her three essentials: “my good luck charms are my braids, eyeblack and my Ardsley Softball sweatshirt.”
She credits a lot of her determination to her father who, just like Sami, was an athlete, playing baseball for Scarsdale when he was in high school. “He always wishes the best for me and pushes me to become a better player and a better person.” She also finds inspiration in the seniors from previous years like Lauren Rende and Taylor Macri, great leaders to whom Sami looks up.
The team has been working hard since November, so Sami is hoping that they can make it at least to the section finals this year--and hopefully even further! All Sami needs are her braids, eyeblack and sweatshirt -- and, of course, her amazing team.
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