After visiting Shepherd University over the summer, senior Sarah Lamper signed to play softball this fall. This makes Lamper the third FHS student to join Rams softball , following alumni Leann Brown and Rachel Taylor. Shepherd University is an NCAA Division II college in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, competing in the Mountain East Conference.
The recruitment process was a long one, she said. The Rams recently changed coaches, and after being offered a place on the roster from the previous coach, Lamper had to start over once the current coach took over.
“The new coach was so busy getting back in the swing of things so I couldn’t get a hold of her for a really long time,” Lamper said. “I had been in communication with the coach, and I got her to come and see me play in some games and I got to practice with her team. After she offered me a spot on the roster.”
For the last 10 years, softball has been a core aspect of Lamper’s life. Even though she began at second base and outfield, she gradually worked her way up to becoming a pitcher. In addition to the school team, she has played with the Fauquier Freeze 18U team for three years, as well as the recently combined Fauquier Freeze–Ott team for the last year. Softball coach Mark Ott, who has been coaching Lamper since she was 9 years old, said he is confident in her ability to thrive at Shepherd.
“She is a coach’s dream,” Ott said. “She is very enthusiastic about what she does. She works so hard and never complains about anything. I don’t think anybody can have a better teammate that her; whether she’s pitching or not, she is cheering on for whoever is.”
Although she was offered a spot at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Lamper said she knew that Shepherd was right for her. Even though playing softball in college was a priority, she also made sure that they provided classes for her major and that she was still close to her family.
“I just really like the area,” Lamper said. “It’s a really cute, small town, and it kind of feels like home. It’s really scenic and it’s also close to home; I didn’t want to go too far away.”
Lamper is planning to pursue a career in occupational therapy after college, and although Shepherd does not have that program, they do offer the classes needed before getting a master’s degree. Balancing school work and adjusting to college will bring challenges, Lamper said, but she feels that softball is her way to cope with stress.
“Softball has helped me with a lot of things in life and it is a way for me to get away from everything else,” she said. “It’s a good thing to have as I continue through school.”
Ott said he is confident that Lamper will thrive at Shepherd and feels that she will fit right into the community.
“My words of advice are keep doing what she’s doing,” Ott said. “That’s all she can do, because she is a phenomenal individual. She’ll do well, and I think she’ll make a big impact this year.”
Even though Lamper has secured a spot on the team, she said she hopes to improve her stats before entering on the Shepherd team, increasing her ability for more opportunities as a college freshman.
“I hope to start at Shepherd; it’s kind of a big hope for a freshman pitcher,” Lamper said. “They only have two [pitchers] this year, and I know that they’re trying to bring in three with my class. There’s going to be a lot of competition, but I plan to work hard.”