With the advent of the transfer portal, we’re seeing more and more collegiate players who are finding out that their school of choice—for whatever reasons, such as playing time, homesickness, struggles with academics, etc.—wasn’t the best choice like originally thought.
And, frankly, sometimes players and their families get caught up with the bright lights and softball prestige a university may have without looking more closely at the most important consideration of all:
FIT.
That’s what the story of Sydney Samples, an incoming senior at Hebron Christian Academy in Dacula, Ga., and a member of the East Cobb Bullets 16U Samples/Abbott/Cutting travel team, is such a refreshing one.
A 1st Team All-State catcher as an eighth grader in 2019, she was ranked #151 in the 2024 Extra Elite 100 Rankings and is known as a high-level defensive catcher with elite blocking skills, a strong arm and pop time, a high softball IQ, and ability to call her own games when needed.
Sydney allowed only four passed balls in her first 120 innings this year and at the Power Pool in Colorado she had no passed balls and threw out the only runner that attempted to steal on her in her 17-plus innings. Overall defensively, she has compiled a .989 fielding percentage in 183 chances mid-way through this summer.
At the plate she’s hitting around .300 with .413 on-base percentage in “A” tournaments and Power Pools and, says one of her EC Bullets coaches: “She’s a fixture in the middle of our order.”
So where will Sydney be playing at the next level? The answer may surprise, but the reasoning behind her decision is solid… and a mature one.
“I had a pretty narrow list of criteria for a college I wanted,” she explains, “including the school being smaller, close to home, and having Ministry or Graphic Art degrees.”
Fortunately for the Samples family, a great possibility for a place that would fit these requirements was located just an hour north on the I-985 freeway: Truett McConnell, a private Baptist university in Cleveland, Georgia which plays at the NAIA level.
After finding out that TMU checked all her academic and athletic boxes, Sydney was proactive in reaching out to the Bears’ head coach, Dylan Reichenberg, and Assistant Coach Karley Hobbs, to let them know she was interested.
“My recruitment experience for TMU,” she remembers, “consisted of emailing Coach Reich and Coach Hobbs multiple times a week with my upcoming tournament schedule, or just restating my interest in their school. Coach Hobbs reached out to me about my interest in their Christian studies program and it went from there.”
The athlete hit a home run—so to speak—when both coaches attended showcases to watch the 2024 grad play. Obviously, she impressed because Sydney was soon invited to the TMU campus for a tour and to watch a workout.
From there, it was just a matter of time before the catcher/corner infielder committed.
“Walking around the campus, I loved the atmosphere and the coaches,” Sydney says. “I have an interest in Christian ministry as a future career and Truett McConnell offers one of the best programs. I chose TMU because it offers the Christ-centered atmosphere, fellowship, close distance to my family, and coaching that I was looking for.”
You don’t have to go very far to find fans of the young athlete.
“Sydney is a kid with very high game IQ behind the dish,” says her high school coach, Brittany Lewis, “and has a desire to improve her game each and every time out. She makes her teammates better with her encouragement while also holding others accountable to a high standard of excellence.”
“I am excited about her commitment to TMU,” Coach Lewis adds, “and look forward to watching her make an immediate impact in their program!”
Alley Cutting, her pitching coach and a former player at the University of Georgia, is also excited to see how her student performs at the collegiate level.
“Sydney Samples is a ray of sunshine,” the instructor begins. “She is a great young athlete with strong catching and hitting abilities and has demonstrated an outstanding talent to work with a variety of pitchers ranging in different speed and movement.”
“Sydney’s leadership behind the plate instills confidence within her other teammates and staff and, with her competitive mindset, she exhibits what it means to be an amazing teammate and young woman. Sydney’s faith carries her through life, and she plays with her heart on her sleeve. It has been a privilege coaching her and I’m looking forward to what her bright future holds!”
EC Bullets assistant club coach Greg Abbott has been with the program five years raves about not just the athlete’s on-field production but also her intangibles that help her teams win.
“Sydney is catalyst and causes those around her to play better through her calm demeanor behind the plate,” Abbott states. “She is never too high or too low, which is what you want in a catcher.”
“Her blocking skills are excellent and a great asset to our drop ball pitchers and she can call a game and does very well by knowing what pitches our pitchers are throwing well each game. Sydney’s offensive production has increased greatly this past year and she currently has seven doubles for us.”
“Just as important, she is an energy giver and her faith is a positive influence on our team, especially when players are struggling on the field.”
With a year left before she hits the Truett McConnell campus, Sydney is content knowing that her future is set regarding softball, academic and cultural integration.
“I knew this is where I wanted to be and, after Coach Reichenberg made me an offer, I gladly accepted. I’m very excited to be a Bear… it’s a perfect fit!”
— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball
