Samantha Smalley Samantha Smalley plays center field for the East Brunswick High School softball team and plays it well, but no one skill can measure up to her unbreakable mental toughness.
This was never more evident than last July when Smalley was nailed in the head with a fastball during a game with her Central Jersey Lightning club team at a tournament game in Delaware. Smalley fell and spent the next two minutes on the ground surrounded by concerned coaches and teammates before she got up and slowly walked to first base.
Even after Smalley stole a base and remained in the game, her coaches felt it would be best to sit her down for the following game. About that time, concussionlike symptoms began to shroud Smalley’s thinking, along with a persistent headache. Smalley’s family sought the advice of a neurologist who performed an MRI and a battery of other tests to find out why the symptoms wouldn’t subside.
What the doctor discovered wasn’t good; in fact, it was devastating. The tests confirmed Smalley suffered head trauma that resulted in a cavernous malformation that is essentially a brain bleed, and she was told she likely wouldn’t play softball again.
Crushed by the doctor’s findings, Smalley might have done what some do and accept the bad news and move on. But she decided to not let this roadblock prevent her from playing the sport she loved.
“I made a decision right then and there to do what I do at-bat when the count is 0- 2: stay positive, remain tough and don’t let [the situation] break me down,” she said.
That was Smalley’s only mindset during her rehab. After six long months, she was cleared to return to the diamond.
It’s a dramatic example of Smalley’s mental resolve — something she calls on even during games.
“When you think about it, softball is a sport based on failure,” she said. “Even the best major league hitters fail seven out of 10 times at-bat. I try not to let small setbacks define me as a player or person but learn from those experiences, work harder and prevent them from happening again.”
Blessed with outstanding speed, Smalley is a natural leadoff hitter, which East Brunswick coach Kevin Brady recognized when she joined the team as a freshman. Smalley’s playing time was limited but the following year (her sophomore season), she exploded onto the scene by batting an eyepopping .516 with a team-leading 47 hits and five stolen bases.
Smalley’s average dipped to .383 last spring, but she made up for that by using her range in the outfield and catching up to hard-hit balls many would not.
“Sam’s a tremendous leader, cares about each of her teammates and wants them all to succeed,” Brady said. “Her blazing speed makes her dangerous on the base paths, and her excellent work ethic is a model for everybody to follow.”
It would appear Smalley’s statistics and strong emotional makeup would make collegiate softball her next challenge, but the rising senior said that when her senior season concludes, she’s done playing softball.
“I have opportunities to play in college,” she said. “And it was a difficult decision to make, but I only want to concentrate on academics, preferably pursuing a business management degree wherever I go.”
That dedication has resulted in a 3.7 grade-point average, which has only been possible by Smalley managing her time the way she does with everything else in her orderly life.
Smalley got involved with softball when she turned 5 playing tee ball. Two years later, she made the all-star team, which led to her travel career. She also played basketball but eventually decided to devote all her time toward softball.
Smalley’s parents have been central figures in her life and are primarily responsible for shaping her positive attitude as she grew up. Close relationships with teammates have also been important, especially fellow rising seniors Brenna Razzano and Ashli Venokur.
Brady believes another of Smalley’s greatest strengths is her steel-like tenacity, which keeps her positive during moments when the Bears appear to be on their way to a loss — a situation he believes challenges softball players more than any other.
An example of this occurred during last spring’s Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) semifinals against South Brunswick High School.
“We were down in the first inning but came back to score five runs,” Smalley said. “But South Brunswick stormed back to tie it, and we went to extra innings. We were pretty dismayed at that point. However, Beth Anania got a hit, and we won the game on a walk-off hit. Our whole team sprinted onto the field, and we hugged and screamed. It was an exciting moment; we were full of joy, and it’s a moment I’ll always remember.”
Failing to mention who laced the gamewinning hit for the Bears, Smalley was asked who that player was.
“It was me,” she said.
Apparently, modesty is another one of Smalley’s strong suits.