Sophia Glass
School: Freeport
Class: Sophomore
Sport: Lacrosse
Claim to fame: On Monday, Glass scored a pair of goals and had three assists as Freeport (9-6, 5-5 in Section 2-2A) defeated Greensburg Salem, 11-3, in nonsection play. Then, against Yough on Wednesday, Glass had seven goals and an assist as the Yellowjackets rolled to a 21-6 victory. She added a hat trick and an assist Thursday in another rout, this time a 22-4 win over Beaver.
How and when did you get started in lacrosse?
My friend across the street, her brother played and her dad was interested in starting a girls program and started one when I was in sixth grade. My friend ended up dragging me into it.
What position do you play?
I play attack.
What have you taken away from your time playing lacrosse?
One thing I’ve taking away is that success comes from hard work and trusting your teammates.
What is there to be said about your seven-goal performance on Wednesday?
All my goals didn’t just come from me. I wasn’t the only one scoring or putting up points. They came from teamwork. My teammates were also out there scoring and assisting.
Was that the most goals you’ve ever scored in a game?
No. The most goals I’ve ever scored in a game came back when I was in eighth grade.
What’s the most number of points you’ve ever scored in a game?
I scored 12 points in a game last year, and I believe it happened against Armstrong.
In all, 12 goals and five assists this week. Can you ever remember having such a productive week?
No.
Which of the goals you scored this week was your favorite?
Probably in our game against Yough when Alyssa Lovgren passed to me, and I was right in front of the crease.
Which one was the most challenging to score?
Probably my goal from eight meters out. That was scored against Beaver.
Was there a part of your game you were looking to improve on coming into the season?
Probably my confidence and not being so selfish.
What were your individual goals coming into the season?
Working together as a team to not only win but to get better overall and make the playoffs.
The team qualified for the playoffs for the first time ever. What does that mean to you?
It means so much. Our team put in so much work for that accomplishment. I didn’t think we would make the playoffs this year, but we’ve improved so much from last year, so it means a lot.
What do you think attributed most to that improvement?
Our stick work. Last year it wasn’t very good, but you could see the improvement as this season went along.
You go in as the nine seed and face No. 8 Oakland Catholic in the first round Monday night. What’s it going to take to pull the upset?
We have to work together as a team and not be selfish. We played really well against North Catholic, and if we play just as well against Oakland Catholic, we can come away with a win.
Do you have a specific pregame routine?
I pray before every game.
You also play basketball. What position do you play?
I’m a shooting guard.
Which sport is your favorite?
Probably basketball, but I’m better at lacrosse.
Favorite hobbies?
I really like to golf when the summer rolls around.
Do you golf for the school?
No.
What’s the best round you’ve ever put together?
I think I shot 1-under-par. I don’t score that well consistently. I got lucky that day.
Favorite subject in school?
Math. Ever since I was in middle school, math came easy to me.
What are you looking forward to most about summer?
Getting better at lacrosse and basketball and team bonding opportunities.
Jarrod Singer
School: Highlands
Class: Senior
Sport: Baseball
Claim to fame: Singer helped lift Highlands (6-14) past Burrell in nonsection action. With the score tied 5-5 heading into the bottom of the eighth, he roped a walk-off single to give the Rams an upset win.
To what part of the field did you send the game-winning hit?
It was a hard-hit ground ball in between third and short.
What was your reaction in the moment?
I wasn’t thinking much of anything in the moment. I took a step back, took a timeout at the plate because I was thinking a bit too much when I stepped in. I recollected myself and hit the ball as hard as I could.
What was the celebration like afterwards?
It was emotional because it was my last high school game. I just couldn’t believe it.
How big of a win was that to the team, with Burrell being a geographical rival, and that it was the capping of a stretch where you guys won four of six to close the year?
It felt like a really good game. I think we gained confidence as a team, closing the season out with a win and it really brought us together.
What is typically your spot in the batting order?
I usually hit seventh or eighth.
The list of positions you play is long. Which do you play the most and which is your favorite?
Left field for both. That’s been my spot since freshman year.
One of those positions is pitching. What’s in your arsenal?
I throw a four-seam fastball, a cutter, changeup and a curveball.
In your last outing on the mound, which of those pitches was working the best for you that day?
It was against Riverview on March 26, and my best pitch that day was probably my cutter.
Other than the Burrell game, what were some of the other highlights to this season?
In the second game against Greensburg Salem on April 28, I went 3 for 4 and I had a couple stolen bases. That was probably my best game this year. As far as team highlights, I want to say our home game against Derry on April 15. That game, we definitely played as a team that day, communicated well and competed very hard.
What were your individual goals coming into the season?
My goal was to just hit as many base hits as I could and get on base as much as possible. That was going to be the only way we were going to score.
Was there anything specific to your game that you wanted to work on coming into the season?
My pitching. I’m a solid pitcher but not very skilled at it, so I wanted to work on that and got a shot this year.
How would you assess your progress?
Before the season started, I was never a pitcher, didn’t know anything about it. But one of my teachers, Mr. Novak, pitched at Slippery Rock and he taught me everything, the skills to pitch. All I did was throw strikes.
What are some of your favorite hobbies outside of baseball?
Hanging out with my buddies, hunting, fishing, and just playing the game.
Did you bag anything this hunting season?
I didn’t get a buck but got a good-sized doe.
Do you have a favorite subject in school?
Math. It’s one of my strongest subjects.
Favorite baseball player.
Mike Trout. He’s been doing really good this season. The one game against the Yankees, he and Aaron Judge were going back and forth hitting home runs.
What are you looking forward to most about summer?
Finding a good job and making money.
What are your plans after graduation?
I was planning on attending CCAC, and I’m looking into HVAC.
What advice would you leave the younger players before you go?
Have fun. It’s not the MLB. Just go out there and play your game and have confidence in yourself and keep your composure.