By Crystal Crowns
the daily cardinal
Not many people are able to say that they walked onto a Division I college softball team, started every single game of their college career and set two program records. However, Wisconsin's senior center fielder Samantha Polito most certainly can.
""A lot of people didn't think I would make the [Wisconsin] team when I told them I was going to try out my freshman year; either that or they didn't think I would get to play if I made it,"" said Polito. ""That kind of is what drove me, to prove everyone wrong and to show everyone that I had what it took to step up and play.""
Polito's optimistic attitude and competitive demeanor greatly contributed to her success as an individual athlete. Her display of leadership, both on and off the field, also makes Polito one of the most crucial elements of the Wisconsin softball team.
""[Sam] is an excellent leader and she's very personable,"" first year assistant coach Julie Wright said. ""This year, she took an interesting role in leadership. She stepped back a little bit to learn each player individually, and she made connections with each of them to help them out, which has really worked well for us.""
Since Polito's first game as a freshman until now, she has started every game for the Badgers. All but one game of her 205 starts has been in center field. Polito scored 134 career runs and had a 16 game hitting streak that came to an end this past weekend. Both of these accomplishments are program records.
""I was actually telling a couple of our younger players on the team to remember Sam because of what she has done to prepare for this year. Every little thing from conditioning, to weightlifting, to how to catch an outfield ball perfectly, to everything in hitting and bunting and slapping, she has not missed a single thing. She has prepared so well, which is why she is having the year that she is having,"" Wright said.
With a team high batting average of .368 and an on-base percentage of .431, Polito has done a great job of getting things started offensively for the Badgers. The star center fielder also has 53 hits and 12 RBI on the season.
""Sam carries a lot of pressure as our number two hitter, but she handles it well,"" senior pitcher Eden Brock said. ""Her drive and her will to win are so motivating because she never wants to lose. You can tell that every time she steps onto the field that she is going to give it her all ... And that encourages the other players because they all want to play hard and stay up there with her.""
Brock and Polito were two members of a class of ten rookies that made the team their freshman year. Now, only three other seniors still remain on the team.
""[Sam] is just such a great athlete and a great player, so it has been an honor to play with her all four years ... Going through this whole process with her, with getting new coaches and adapting to all the changes that we have, has just been a lot of fun. It makes it easier to know that you got through these games because you know someone who has been through it with you,"" Brock said.
With the last two regular season games scheduled for this weekend, Polito and her senior teammates will be playing with a lot of emotion in hopes of improving their conference record. A sweep at Minnesota may or may not be enough to extend their season and make it to the Big Ten Tournament.
""Yes, I've had some individual success this season, but us playing well as a team means so much more. It would be great for us to make it to the Big Ten Tournament because not every team gets that honor, and that is what I'm concentrating on right now,"" Polito said.
