Sports Spotlight: Samantha Ozim

A first baseman on the Windermere Charge team, Samantha Ozim loves playing softball alongside her friends under head coach Patryk Ozim, who also happens to be her dad. Ozim helped cap off the season for the Charge by winning the District 14 Top Team Coach Pitch Tournament.

How long have you been playing softball, and what got you into the sport?

I was 7. My sister was playing, and I wanted to do what my sister was doing.

What’s been your favorite thing about playing softball? How about the hardest?

That you get to try out different positions to see which ones you like. I like it, because most of the time, you’re in the play. I would say the hardest part about playing first base is that if someone either over-throws it or throws it off to the side, and sometimes you can’t really get it.

What’s been your favorite thing about playing on this team?

Everybody is friendly, and most of the time, we’re always happy, and we want to play.

Is there one thing with your softball playing you’d like to improve?

Probably my throwing. Sometimes, I don’t step in the right place, and my elbow isn’t up high.

Do you watch any softball on TV?

My sister turns it on, but most of the time we watch the (Florida) Gators play softball.

You just won the District 14 Top Team Coach Pitch Tournament with your team. What was that like?

It was really exciting and really fun, especially because all of my friends are on my team. At the beginning of the game when I was pitching, I was crying thinking we weren’t going to win. But then throughout the game, I was getting more excited, and then down, and then at the end, I was so excited that we won. I was jumping up and down with my friends.

You’ve aged out of the Charge, so what happens next for you on the softball diamond?

Next year, I’m going to move up to minors, which is the older level. I’m kind of nervous, but I’m also kind of excited.

What’s it like playing for your dad?

It’s pretty fun, because when we are at practice we talk about what we need to work on and then at home we work on it.

What do you like doing in your spare time?

I like to play with my sisters, I like to do art, and I like to dance. I like to create things out of paper and stuff. 

After you play a game, what would you want to eat?

Probably McDonalds.

Are you a cat or a dog person?

I’m more of a dog person, but I (like both of them).