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By: Nate Beutel
An appropriate saying when discussing the athletic skills of Andrea Scibetta.
When you first meet her Scibetta,a senior in her second season of varsity softball with the North Tonawanda Lady Jacks, strikes you as being a shy, unassuming young lady.
There’s absolutely no outward sign of the fierce competitor within. While some lead with words, Scibetta is the type of player that simply leads by playing the only way she knows how. Giving it her all.
“I’m definitely an athlete that leads more by (my) actions,” Scibetta said. “I like to just work hard and hope that my team will follow.”
The Jacks starting right fielder, Scibetta is blessed with blazing speed that helps her run down any ball hit in her direction.
But that’s only one facet of Scibetta worth. Sure, she can track down and catch virtually everything that is hit her way, but Scibetta brings more than a reliable glove. She has a high softball I.Q. and the presence of mind to know what to do in all situations.
“She just flat-out never misses a backup,” said NT coach Larry Lash. “Outfield is the backup for all infield play. And infielders like to know (they’re) going to be backed up.”
A great believer in the importance of the defensive side of the game, Lash added that having a girl like Scibetta is invaluable. Especially with such a young team.
“We don’t have as much experience as we did in past years,” said Scibetta. “We want to show them that you have to be quick to the ball. You have to know what you’re going to do once you get the ball. It’s a mental game and you have to be on top of things are all times.”
At the heart of it all is a girl who loves the game and pushes herself hard everyday to make herself better.
Scibetta is that model of what coaches are talking about when they say great practice player. Scibetta takes every minute on the field to heart.
“All they have to do is look in her direction and they will see how hard she works,” said Lash. “Not just in games, but in practice. She is one of the best practice players I’ve ever had.”
Though the Jacks do not have officially designated captains, with 10 newcomers to the team Scibetta is well aware that young eyes are focused on her and she must set the good example.
Extremely modest, you can tell in Scibetta’s words that she doesn’t think of herself as someone that others would look up to.
More often than not, she’ll deflect talk to senior catcher Shaina Bunker,a varsity veteran since seventh grade, as the true leader.
But its that modesty and selflessness that makes Scibetta so special to have around. And the kind of girl that can help a young team stay confident through the ups and downs of a season.
“They have great character and I know that they’re trying to get better,” Scibetta.
That’s not to say Andrea Scibetta is all business. Hardly. Striking that good balance that you want in a leader, one minute Scibetta will impart advice to a teammate. The next, she’ll be laughing with the girls as they share inside jokes.
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