Massapequas Samantha Portz now shifting to…
She desires to deliver home a star spangled state banner.
Outfielder Samantha Portz, Massapequa’s valedictorian who is bravely becoming a member of the army after enjoying school softball at Amherst, desires to add one more accolade to her commencement robe this month: the Chiefs’ first New York State softball title.
“I like challenging myself,” Portz, a captain with a 101.34 grade level average and .482 batting average, instructed The Post.
“Anything I can do to just help this team — move runners over when we can, or just situationally hit, that’s what I’ll do,” she stated.
Portz and the remaining of her 21-5 Chiefs group will take on Albany space’s Shenendehowa (19-2) in the semifinals Friday afternoon, with the championship the next day, ought to the Long Island title winners advance.
Samantha Portz is an outfielder at Massapequa. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post
The pleasure in city is doubly palpable as Massapequa’s baseball group is also state tournament-bound and will play Hudson Valley’s Ketcham in the semifinals as effectively Friday.
Grand slam pupil
Softball is just one half of Portz’s high faculty transcript, albeit a thrilling one.
The senior standout, who performs soccer in the autumn and bowls in the winter, has taken 14 AP lessons during her years at MHS — nearly half of them as a senior after being accepted into the Massachusetts school.
“I could have just taken easy classes, but I always want to do my best,” she stated.
“I just wanted to take as many APs as possible because it’s just fun for me. … Both on the field and in the classroom, I’m very competitive.”
Coach Christina Castellani described No. 16 as having a Derek Jeter-esque seriousness to athletics and teachers, while also becoming in time for group service and after-school golf equipment.
Samantha Portz, an outfielder at Massapequa, is pictured with a bat. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post
Samantha Portz desires to help Massapequa win a state title for softball. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post
“Sam’s a quiet leader, but I think just leading by example, she’s really elevating the girls in their competitiveness,” Castellani stated, including, “I don’t know how she does it all.
“Sam is all business on the field. She can have fun, she knows how to, but you don’t really see it as much. She’s always got that game face on.”
Foul line to entrance line
While a student-athlete at Amherst next yr — Portz is a recipient of a four-year Army scholarship — she concurrently can be half of the close by University of Massachusetts ROTC program.
She will graduate as an officer in the U.S. Army with the rank of second lieutenant and is contemplating a main in arithmetic, with a potential minor in Spanish or statistics.
“I’m just excited to serve my country and just give back to others around me,” Portz stated.
“I am going to probably continue serving even after the required years because that’s just what I’m excited to do.”
Samantha Portz is also the Massapequa valedictorian. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post
Her inspiration to be part of the service hits close to home, the outfielder defined.
“My grandfather was in the United States Marine Corps during Vietnam, and he would always tell me stories about how proud he was serving and how it was such an honor,” she added.
“I think as a kid, just hearing these stories really inspired me to pursue a career in a similar area and continue service.”
Portz, who is proud to be a Chief, stated her time in Massapequa taught life abilities she is going to use on both the softball area and the battlefield.
“This community really has values of service and leadership, and why it’s really important to put on a good example,” she stated.
“So I think that’s important and will help me in the future.”
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