Poly Prep leading competitive softball action in Brooklyn

The season is heating up for Poly Prep Blue Devils softball as the team looks to score some big wins in the next couple of weeks. Poly Prep is a demanding school where student-athletes balance academics and athletics, but their passion for their sport drives them to excellence.

In her second year on the varsity team, sophomore Jordin Walker said pitching is fun but also challenging. “You have to control yourself when you’re on the mound and notice what’s around you in the game,” she said. “When I’m pitching, there could be a lot happening. It could be a tied situation where there are people on base and I have to focus.”

Celia Camara is already playing varsity softball in the eighth grade at third base, shortstop, and pitcher. “I love the environment and the people,” she said. When pitching, she does her utmost to stay calm. “Usually, the pitcher controls the whole mood of the team. As long as I’m calm and collected on the mound, I know that my teammates have my back.”

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Freshman Tori Eanes describes herself as a utility player—adept at third base, first base, and pitching. She demands a lot of herself. “When I see where my work goes on the field when I’m playing, it makes it a thousand times better, because you know your work is showing on the field and that’s what it’s supposed to do,” she said. “I definitely want to be more consistent with batting and pitching because pitching is as much a mental game as it is physical.”

All three are aiming to play softball at the collegiate level, so they’re playing summer travel ball, attending camps, and maintaining stellar grades. Walker balances school and sports by making the most of her free periods during the day to get as much homework done as possible. Eanes said the transition to the high school workload has not been easy, but she’s adapting.

While Eanes plays softball, her brother, who attends St. Francis Prep, plays baseball. They gravitated to similar sports when the family lived in California. “It’s such a popular sport there,” she said. Both of her parents attended Historically Black College and University (HBCU) schools, and she’s got some on her list, but she’s also considering a possible return to California. “California, Nevada, and Florida are softball states.”

The Ivy Prep League Championships are next week.