North Penn Grad Making an Impact with Temple Softball

     Some softball players hit home runs or put together eye-popping batting averages.  Samantha Schoell is doing her part at Temple as an unsung hero.

     Schoell recently completed her junior season at the Big Five school.  The North Penn graduate hit second in the lineup for the Owls during the season.  Schoell didn’t have the highest batting average or the top slugging percentage on the team, but she was a key contributor for a Temple team that reached the Atlantic 10 playoffs.

     “I want to contribute every day,” said Schoell.  “Even if I’m not getting hits, I’m definitely moving the runners and getting them in scoring position.  Someone has to do that on the team and I’m glad I can contribute in some way.”

     Schoell started in all 45 games for the Owls this season.  The rightfielder led the team with 12 sacrifice hits and set the table for her teammates throughout the season.  Temple finished with a 22-23 record, but Schoell and many of her teammates got their first taste of the post-season.  Temple’s season ended with a pair of losses to Charlotte in the double-elimination tourney, but Schoell believes the 2011 campaign was a step forward for the program.

     “It was the first year I was in the A-10 playoffs,” Schoell said.  “It was disappointing how the season ended with the loss down in Charlotte, but we have improved over the years.  It was nice being in the playoffs and getting that shot to win.”

     In addition to her sacrifices at the plate, Schoell is one of the top defensive players on the Owls.  She saw playing time as early as her freshman season because of her strong play in the outfield.

     “I’m pretty solid defensively,” said Schoell.  “I have good range in the outfield and a pretty good arm.  With hitting, I’ve gotten better.  I had a little bit of trouble this year.  Hitting .234 wasn’t where I wanted to be at, but I’m definitely working on it for my senior season.”

     Schoell played in 33 games during her freshman season and moved into the starting lineup.  Her strong play continued the following season as she started in 46 of the Owls’ 47 games.  Schoell believes the experience she gained early in her time at Temple made the adjustment to the college competition easier.

     “It really helped,” Schoell said.  “It was a real confidence booster. Just getting the experience of playing at the college level was really helpful.  I’m very thankful for being able to play here.”

     Before arriving at Temple, Schoell made her mark at North Penn.  A team captain and MVP, Schoell was a Second Team All-Suburban One Conference selection for the Maidens.  Her success came after Schoell elected to switch from soccer to softball in high school.

     “Being able to play softball at North Penn definitely helped,” said Schoell.  “We had a great atmosphere and got to play some really good teams.  I played against players who are actually in college now, so it was great exposure to a lot of different competition.”

     When it came time to look for the college that offered the right fit for both softball and academics, Temple became the clear choice for Schoell.  She wanted to major in mechanical engineering, and Temple’s engineering school combined with its softball program offered everything Schoell wanted.

     “I wanted to do a school where I could do both softball and engineering,” Schoell said.  “Temple was one of the best fits for me.  It’s literally 15 minutes from my house so my parents get to see every game.”

     While Schoell has made her mark on the softball field, she still has her priorities in order when it comes to her studies.

     “I played travel ball when I was in high school,” said Schoell.  “I got used to doing my schoolwork ahead of time and that carried over into college.  I get my work done and I have time for practice.  It’s all about the time management and hard work.”

     Schoell is carving out her career path at Temple, but she is looking forward to one more year of softball with the Owls.

     “Everyone is going to be hyped for next year,” Schoell said.  “I’m really excited for my senior year.  I have one year left, so I want to go out with a bang.  I want to step up my game even further and just keep doing what I’m doing with my schoolwork to get ready for grad school.”