Name: Sam Schmidt

Position: Infielder

Hometown: Lombard

Started playing softball: Kindergarten

“I started out playing baseball in kindergarten,” Schmidt said. “When I got to sixth grade, I switched over and started playing softball. I knew I kind of had to move to softball. I kind of wanted to make that switch.”

Softball inspiration: Dad and brother

“My brother played baseball, so I wanted to follow what he did,” Schmidt said. “My dad kind of pushed me to be like my brother, so I guess my brother is the reason I wanted to play, because I wanted to be just like him.”

Interesting fact: Obsessed with Christmas

“I have a countdown, even the day after Christmas starts,” Schmidt said. “I love the movies and just everything about it. My favorite Christmas was in fifth grade when I got a puppy for Christmas.”

Game strengths: Hitting

“I think throughout my whole life I’ve always been a decent hitter,” Schmidt said.

Game weaknesses: Gets easily frustrated

“I get frustrated kind of easily,” Schmidt said. “When things get bad I start to freak out a little bit. That’s something I think I should work on.”

Pre-game rituals: Preparing the same way

“I always put my right spike on before my left spike,” Schmidt said. “I’m not sure why. It’s kind of a superstition I have.”

Favorite softball memory: MAC tournament grand slam

“Last year in the Mid-American Conference tournament, we were down by three runs, and it was late in the game,” Schmidt said. “It was two outs, a full count and our shortstop Kali Kossakowski was up, and she had a grand slam to tie the game. Everyone jumped out of the dugout, it was pretty cool.”

Schmidt is one of four players who have started and played in all 40 of the Huskies’ games. She’s ranked No. 2 on the team in batting average with a .379 average in 116 at-bats after she tallied a .202 batting average in 119 at-bats during her sophomore season in 2016.

Schmidt recorded the first home run of her collegiate career in the Huskies’ March 31 win against the University of Buffalo Bulls. She ranks No. 3 on the team in on-base percentage with a .442 average.

“The last two years Sam has really stepped up,” said Head Coach Christina Sutcliffe. “The growth she’s made between her freshman year and sophomore year is huge, and then this year she’s raised the bar even more. She’s shown a lot of consistency offensively, and she plays three different infield positions, which isn’t easy to do at all.”