What do you want to know about Samantha Yodowitz? Really it’s everything, right? Well, there’s not going to be that much information in here about her, we’re just going to hit some highlights.
Sam started playing ball when she was five. She was that cute little toddler running around the bases, and as she explained, cried when she only got a triple out of a hit; always looking for the next base, she still does.
Pitching was something Sam figured out she wanted to do early. She started pitching in the second grade and is still going strong. Throughout high school and into college at C.W. Post, she worked hard in the circle. She rounded out her career at C.W. Post with some killer statistics her senior year: posted a 30-8 record with a 1.62 ERA and struck out 192 batters in 244 innings.
Don’t let the pitching stats fool you, this girl can hit. At the plate, Sam batted .342 with 39 RBI. If that wasn’t enough she led the Pioneers with eight homeruns and 20 extra-base hits.
As a pitcher? Yes.
Sam is now continuing her education at Hofstra University getting her master’s in Health Education. As if that’s not enough, she is also the assistant coach at her alma mater. Interesting note on that point too, her assistantship puts her as a direct competitor versus her, now, coach Jeff Franquet. Think she will try to steal his signs?
So, how has Sam liked playing in the pros?
“I’ve had a lot of fun,” she said. “I’ve met a lot of really cool people (as Chad Hughes, an intern coughs to try and get his name in her list), learned a lot with everyone being from around the country. Whether it’s softball or life that we have our differences in, our day to day stuff, we have learned from each other.”
She really likes her nickname, Samuel, too (sarcasm). It was a nickname her sister called her growing up to tease her about being a tomboy, or just an outright athlete as we see. Stacy Birk came up with nicknames for all the outfielders, male names that are similar to their name. The list is as follows: Samanatha= Samuel, Lillian= Lionel, Jami= (either) James, Jim, Jimbo or Jami (pronounced hi-may), Trena- Trent, Danielle- Daniel, and Auriel= Aaron. Birk also through in the coaches to be Carl who is Carla and Joe is Josephine.
Sam considers fellow rookie Danielle Kinley and veteran Audrey LaFountain to be two of her closest friends on the team. Why mention that? Because they auditioned for a movie together!
If you haven’t heard, there is a softball movie being shot at Drexel University called “How do you know?” starring Reese Witherspoon. The movie trained Witherspoon on the in’s and out’s of softball with the best coach for it, Sue Enquist.
“It was really cool,” Sam said. “We did a lot of different drills, and it was cool working with Sue Enquist for the day. I think that was the best part.”
Sam, Audrey, Danielle and Savannah all tried out and made it through to the final casting call. They should find out later this month on if they’re star material.
Samantha Yodowitz is a player, and more importantly a person to remember. She is a friendly face, a great pitcher and a force to be reckoned with when you’re an airline that loses her luggage.
Catch Sam and the rest of the Force in their last homestand versus the USSSA Pride August 12-16 at ECTB Stadium.
And hey, who knows, maybe you’ll catch her on the big screen soon!
If you haven’t heard, there is a softball movie being shot at Drexel University called “How do you know?” starring Reese Witherspoon. The movie trained Witherspoon on the in’s and out’s of softball with the best coach for it, Sue Enquist.