Sports Spotlight: Zoie Pistel | Observer Preps

Sophomore Zoie Pistel returns to the softball diamond for Legacy head coach Katherine Barnard as one of the team’s leading players. Last year, Pistel hit for a team second-best average (.469) while picking up 25 RBI and eight extra-base hits. While she racks up stats at the plate, Pistel will spend her time out in the field as a utility player for the Eagles, playing mostly at either short stop or centerfield.

What got you into playing softball?

I started when I was like, 10-and-a-half, and at first my mom was trying to convince me to play in the beginning, because my friends were playing at the West Orange Girls Club. I was kind of like, “No,” but then I finally tried it and I loved it.

How do you get ready for a game?

Usually I mentally prepare myself. I try to calm myself down, and try to get into a hype. I listen to music, hang with my friends, and laugh around and joke around.

What’s the most challenging part about playing high-school softball?

Probably the mental aspect of the sport. When you mess up, you can’t just get down. You have to be fine, take a deep breath — if you just have a bad mental state, then you’re just going to keep making errors.

As a utility player, you play at a few different positions. Do you have a favorite among them?

Definitely short stop and center — those two are my favorite positions. Centerfield, because I guess I feel like in the outfield I’m free, and at short stop, I feel like I have a responsibility, and I need to just do my job.

Is there one aspect of your game that you’re trying to work on this season?

Mostly trying to not get as aggravated. Most of the time I’m not, but lately — I don’t know why — I’ve just gotten so angry sometimes. I just need to calm down and relax and just move on.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

I would definitely go to Uganda, because I once met a great group of kids from Uganda who came down with an organization called Watoto — they’re a singing choir and they go to churches and sing. Honestly, they just changed my life so much. I met them two years ago, and ever since then, I’ve grown attached.

When you grow up, what do you want to be?

I have a few choices that I really want to study and look into, but one of my first options would be either an athletic trainer, veterinarian or be an anesthesiologist.