sports Senior Corner EHS softball battery mates are also longtime friends

By Rich Fisher

The communication between a pitcher and catcher is pretty darn important in softball; and Ewing High is fortunate to have battery mates with an excellent symbiotic relationship.

It doesn’t hurt that they also have pretty good bats.

Hurler Abby Singer and catcher Emily Gamboa Ordini are lifelong friends who have played either with or against each since they were 8-years-old. At age 4 Ordini was one of the youngest players on the field in t-ball. Upon moving to Ewing rec softball she was united with Singer; and the two also played several years with the Ewing Edge travel team before Abby switched to a team in Pennsylvania.

They reunited in middle school and burst on the varsity scene together in a big way as Blue Devils freshmen.

“We’ve been friends forever,” Singer said. “It’s great to have her. We’ve been playing together since we were real young. We both came to tryouts last year hoping to make varsity. Once we made it, it was ‘Maybe we’ll throw together.’”

They did more than that. Not only did Singer become the starting pitcher and Ordoni the starting catcher; both were offensive terrors. Abby hit .388 with seven doubles, a triple, a home run and 17 RBIs, while Emily hit .621 with a team-high 41 hits, 10 doubles, a teamleading three homers and 22 RBIs.

But for Abby, it wasn’t as easy as it looked.

“Personally, it was nerve wracking my freshman year,” she said. “There were a lot of seniors. I was 15 and all these 18 year olds were there. I was just hoping to get myself on varsity and prove myself from there. I think I’ve done that, thus far.”

She has done just that. But how?

“I think everyone on the team was super welcoming and that really helped,” Singer said. “On top of that I relied on coaching and my great support system at home. That was super helpful. My parents, my travel coaches and teammates all helped.”

The results are obvious.

This year Singer, through the Blue Devils 10-12 start, was batting .370 with five extra-base hits and 23 RBIs. She was second on the team in hits (27) and average behind red-hot fellow sophomore Amonnie Wertz Panniel (31 hits, .408) and second in RBIs to senior Natalie Santiago (24 RBIs, .347).

She is also the Devils No. 1 pitcher again this year and, although her numbers are not eye-popping, coach Katie Schuh has no complaints.

“She’s a phenomenal pitcher,” Schuh said. “She’s got an array of different pitches. She commands the locations very well. She has a good demeanor out there in the circle.”

She also has it at the plate, especially with runners on base.

“She’s hitting the crap out of the ball,” Schuh continued. “She just goes up there with the attitude that she’s gonna get a hit and most of the time she does. She handles pressure well. She keeps herself nice and calm; doesn’t really show her emotions. You could put the pressure on

See SOFTBALL, Page 22

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June 2023

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