Alexa Zartman-Ball '17 Recruiting Profile

Hi my name is Alexa Zartman-Ball (Z-Ball) and I love softball. My life doesn't seem to feel right without playing or training for it every day. I am happiest when I have scored an out or when I hear that sound on the bat hitting a dinger.

In addition to my softball life, I am an incoming junior at The Madeira School in McLean, Virginia just outside Washington, DC. Madeira is a small all girls' boarding & day school founded almost 100 years ago to help women prepare for the world and is known for very rigorous academics and Co-Curriculum programs. I also will be an Resident Assistant (RA) and Student Leader this upcoming year and have been one of two student representative for admissions panels on parents re-visit days in 2015. I love learning and building great relationships with my friends and teachers, but I also feel very proud to represent my school both in leadership and to the outside world.

This is will be my fifth year playing softball and although I am an all-utility player, I am strongest in the infield usually at 3rd base or short stop.  I am a player who is happy to play or do anything the team needs and am captain of both my travel and school teams. I'll be the one cheering to help lift the spirits of the other girls or calling the play on the field.  I do a little of everything from organizing T-shirts and group texts, to having discussions with the coaches about team moral or tournament schedules. I help train the younger players, work with the trainers on injury prevention, and ensure we're having fun as well as trying our best.  

For the Fall to Summer 2014-2015 Travel Ball season I was captain of the Red Raiders 16U Brad Broseker classic travel team that works with Jim Ferrara as Batting Coach & Kim Berger as Assistant Coach. Brad is not only my primary coach, but the President of the Red Raider's organization with hundreds of players and many teams for all levels Rec & Travel. I also have had a great lexperience with my school's Madeira Varsity team, John Lechler who is a hitting coach with his own facility in Herndon, VA the Diamond Sports Training Facility. John really turned the team around this spring (2015) in just one season and I am really excited about the year ahead and the new recruits coming in.  I have already begun working with John for year-round activity to prepare for spring of 2016.

I have also been lucky enough to attend a number of college softball camps last summer and this summer as well as attend Academic Recruting Camp in Pennsbury, PA with the NFCA and Academic ShowBall at Baseball Heaven in Long Island, NY.  All of the coaches and trainers have really pushed me to be my best because I think they see I really want it. I am happy for the challenge and to push myself to the next level. I am excited about finding a great college where I can learn, grow, and play ball!