 has found great success so far this season, winning 17 consecutive games and outscoring their opponents 178-42. P-T’s only loss came to a Class…){kind=link}
Senior Cam Ponko committed to Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) for softball.
Q. What does it mean to lead as a senior captain for this team?
A. I think it’s a big part, but I think we have so many leaders that it’s kind of toned down. To be a leader is mental and it’s also on the field. It’s cheering your teammates on, and I think we have a lot of those leaders on our team.
Q. What’s your favorite part of playing softball for P-T?
A. Definitely the people I play with. This year, the seniors and whole team have such a good bond and connection that I think that’s definitely my favorite part of going to practices and games is being with the girls.
Q. Your coach talks a lot about staying grounded… with all your home runs and how well the team is doing, how do you stay grounded?
A. It’s the mentality of going from game to game. I think you have to figure out a way to stay humble and stay within the team because I think of it as an unselfishness type of thing. I’m more in it for my team, so the home runs might come naturally, but it’s definitely not the biggest thing I focus on.
Q. Why did you decide to commit to IUP?
A. I think I had a great opportunity to play there. I love the coach up there. Coaches don’t always stay at colleges when they recruit you. They get moved around a lot, but I love Coach B, the team was great and the school was great. I think I’m going to get a good education there. So overall, it was just the best opportunity I could have had.
Sophomore Allyson Paulone has been a starting pitcher for the Warriors in 16 of their games.
Q. How long have you been playing softball for?
A. I started playing when I was about five or six.
Q. Have you always loved to play softball?
A. [Softball] has always been my favorite thing. It’s like my comfort. I’ve always had fun with the game and being with my team.
Q. What does it mean to be a starting pitcher as a sophomore?
A. I think it’s a pretty great feeling that my coaches and my teammates can trust me with the role that I have. My team is always there for me.
Q. Did you always grow up playing with these players?
A. Some of us were in different age groups, but all of us have known each other since we were in elementary school and we’ve all been on teams for a while, so we’ve known each other for a while.
Q. What’s your favorite part of playing softball for P-T?
A. I love the competition. There’s never a dull moment, we’re always competing and we always have a chance to win.
Q. Do you have a favorite memory so far?
A. I just love it when we get up, we have lots of cheers in the dugout and it’s super fun.
Q. Do you have any colleges in mind yet?
A. I definitely want to stay close to home, and I’d love to play softball in college.