Eagles Softball Ready 'to Do Something Great'

The Eagles are ready to win, says West Deptford softball coach Amanda Schramm.

"They want it," Schramm told Patch on Thursday. "They want this South Jersey title."

Friday brings the biggest game of the season for Schramm's program, as the team travels to take on Buena in the title match for the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 2 championship.

And Schramm thinks that this team—which earlier this season won her coaching victory number 100—has what it takes to win.

"I feel confident that our team is peaking right now," Schramm said Thursday as her squad practiced in the 95-degree, early afternoon sun.

"It's a good time to peak," she said. "They've gotten a lot of confidence over the past few weeks."

Buena will not be a pushover, Schramm said. The Chiefs play small ball, relying on slap hitting and aggressive baserunning. They will try to beat the Eagles on the basepaths, particularly from standout sophomore Samantha Fiocchi.

Schramm said her team is anchored by the confidence and leadership of four seniors: catcher Katherine Ziegler, outfielder Summer Wenzel, and shortstops/pitchers Marissa Linquist and Sydney Ponto, who will start the game.

The year has been one of milestones for this Eagles team, and was not without its character-testing moments, Ponto said.

"It was a little bit of a rocky road," she said. "I was out for a few games; they thought I fractured my wrist. [Linquist] was out with a back injury."

But the duo recovered and made the most of their opportunities, knocking in their 100th career hits in the same contest. 

Now, Schramm says, the girls are ready to put the finishing touches on their senior season.

"We want to put ourselves in a position to do something great," Schramm said. "We have a good shot."

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