MARLBORO – Sam Maleck is no stranger to high-pressure moments. Navigating those is also exactly what she wants to be doing on a softball diamond.
Marlboro’s star junior pitcher has already seen a litany of high-level success in her journey on the diamond. Joining elite-level travel squads as early as fifth grade to winning a New York State Class A state title with the Dukes program in 2024 as a freshman, she’s already experienced it all with still over a year left in her high school journey.
Through it all, there’s one thing that has made her stand out. She’s built for the big moments.
“I think, for me, it’s just about being able to handle pressure out on the mound,” Maleck said in an exclusive interview with the Poughkeepsie Journal. “If I have runners on base or the bases loaded, I’m usually able to get out of it pretty well without getting rattled. I think it helps me because I just focus on what I need to get done instead of worrying about what could happen.”
What can happen in those moments is a hefty amount of strikeouts. That number is up over 300 at the moment in just about two years of varsity pitching, with a season-plus left. In a complete game shutout over Wallkill on April 16, the junior eclipsed the 300 career strikeouta mark while also adding a 2-for-3 day at the plate.
With a celebratory sign and a team picture for the moment to boot, it was one of countless memories that Maleck isn’t going to forget while being a part of this program.
“In the moment, it was so fun. The whole team, even the outfielders came into the infield to congratulate me. My one center fielder was jumping up and down,” a smiling Maleck said. “It was just so fun to watch them and see how supportive they were of me.”
Memories that will never leave
There’s undoubtedly hundreds of more to come with still the rest of this season and her senior campaign next year, but it’s still an important milestone for someone who’s really done nothing but win in her career. As previously mentioned, she was brought up to the varsity team as a freshman during the 2024 season, although used more as an outfielder during that time.
Winning a state title is any high school athlete’s dream. Getting to accomplish it so early is something she’ll never forget and always cherish.
“It was so fun. We were all crying too because we knew that it was our last time all playing together and that team had such a good connection. It was definitely very emotional,’ Maleck said. “I remember jumping up and down with our medals on and my teammates getting caught by the medals because we were so excited.”
Marlboro softball quickly became a family for Maleck and a home she loved so much. Ironically enough, it was her actual family strength and connection that was the entire reason she got into the sport.
“For me, I started because my older cousin played so that was kind of my motivation to start. I looked up to them and wanted to be like them,” she said when discussing her origins into the sport. “I just kind of liked having all my friends with me, going to practice every week and just seeing my friends.”
Family and friends, it’s really what this has all been about for Maleck. The talent and success eventually came along with it, but why she’s out there on the field really has never changed.
“They’re the most important thing, they’ve helped me to get to here … We’ve given up family vacations so I can go play on the weekends for softball tournaments,” she said, mentioning just one of many sacrifices her family has given up in order to pursue her dream. “We’ve just accepted that’s our vacation time and our time away from home.”
What Marlboro has meant
Not only just her actual immediate family, the entire Marlboro school and softball program have become so important to the development of Maleck both on and off the field. Spearheaded by Marlboro head coach Andrea Schoonmaker, who was a collegiate softball player of her own at SUNY Cortland, the lessons being taught at the top stick with the rising star pitcher.
“She’s taught me to always have a reason as to why you come to practice… she wants us always have a reason to be there,” Maleck said about her coach. “Everyone is just super supportive. We’re a small school so everyone knows each other and everyone will ask about your games and wish you good luck. I think its so important to be close-knit.”
While she still has ample time to create more memories with her school, family and friends over the next year-plus, Maleck can also sit comfortably and enjoy each moment, already knowing where her next home is going to be.
This past December, Maleck announced her commitment to Quinnipiac University to continue playing softball. Noting the proximity to home and the family-like atmosphere she felt at the Hamden, Connecticut, school, it was a no-brainer for her.
“It was a really small school, which is really important to me,” she noted. “As soon as I went on that first visit, I kind of knew that it was where I wanted to go.”
There’s still time until her collegiate career begins. As of now, she still has hundreds of batters to punch out, even after reaching 300 already.
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Maleck looking to continue Marlboro’s greatness with pitching prowess
Reporting by Eric Decker, Poughkeepsie Journal / Poughkeepsie Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
