Littlejohn keeps cool under fire

By: Carolyn M. Hartko
   The South Brunswick High School girls’ softball team is under a lot of pressure this week.
   After Monday’s 4-3 loss to Edison, the Lady Vikings were 6-7-1 with Friday’s deadline to qualify for this year’s state tournament fast approaching. That put South in a squeeze play, having to win two of the remaining three games on this week’s schedule in order to have the required .500 record.
   As the pressure mounts, there is likely to be at least one Viking who remains as cool as the damp days this week. Sophomore pitcher, Samantha ("Sam") Littlejohn will just keep working on the mound, taking on one batter at a time.
   "For a sophomore, she has great composure," Viking head coach Danielle Matlack said. "You can’t tell if we’re ahead, you can’t tell if we’re behind. She’s just a great worker."
   Littlejohn is also a rarity in high school pitching circles. She does not pitch year round, and softball isn’t even her main sport. This three-season athlete plays soccer, basketball and softball at South Brunswick, and it is soccer that she pursues outside of school with a West Windsor traveling team. However, she has been involved with all three sports since about fourth grade, through rec and travel team programs, and Crossroads Middle School.
   Littlejohn actually started out playing baseball in the spring, but switched to softball in fourth grade. That’s also around the time she caught the pitching bug.
   "I liked watching the other girls on my team pitch, and then I just decided to try," Littlejohn said. "They all went to the same pitching coach. I was friends with the three pitchers that were older than me, and I just started going."
   Littlejohn is a straight-A student with an interest in science, which may carry her to a career in medicine. So, it’s not surprising that she likes the mind games that are part of softball, especially for a pitcher.
   "I like how you have to think a lot," the 15-year-old said. "It’s really engaging. There’s always something you have to think about. And as a pitcher, you’re always involved."
   Littlejohn has five pitches in her repertoire. She feels that her drop ball is her best pitch, but she can also throw a screwball, curve, change-up and fastball. She’s working on adding a rise to the menu, and that’s not all.
   "Sam’s working on not walking anybody," Matlack said. "We need her first pitches to be strikes."
   Although new to varsity this year, Littlejohn’s background as a well-rounded athlete helped her to fit in right away.
   "Sam understands sports," Matlack said. "And that’s from her parents. Her family has done a great job in teaching her teamwork. She just fits in so well with everything. She accepts constructive criticism. She’s a great kid. She’s just what a coach wants as an athlete."
   Team unity is very important to the Vikings. They enjoy doing things together off the field, and went out for dinner as a team on Sunday to get pumped up for Monday’s game. According to Littlejohn, the team spirit and the peer leadership have been outstanding this year.
   "We have a lot of seniors, and that’s been really helpful, because they’re experienced," the Viking said. "And I think we work well as a team. We all get along, and we’re all really competitive."
   The Vikings will need that competitive spirit working full blast this week if they want to extend their season into the state tournament this spring.