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With the launch of the final 2022 Extra Elite 100 rankings to begin in less than a month (Oct. 11, 2021), we continue our spotlighting top prospects in the class.
We’ve had twins both make the Top 100 before—the Camenzinds in the prior 2022 class and rankings the Leach sisters in the 2023’s grad year—come to mind among others.
Another “twinning duo” of note come from Houston: Sage and Summer Scarmardo, who play shortstop and catcher, respectively, for the Texas Bombers 18U Gold HTX Team coached by David McCorkle.
Both are now finishing up their club and prep careers before they head to the Big Ten to play for Purdue.
Here’s more on the Terrific Twins you’ll be hearing a lot more about in upcoming years…
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Twin Softballers—the Similarities & Differences
“They are each other’s backbones and have been partners-in-crime since they were born!” reveals Kristi Malpass, the head coach of the Texas Bombers Gold 14U – Malpass team and the twins’ trainer.
“They have been blessed to play on the same team since they were 3-years-old, playing in the back yard together since they could walk, and now will get to continue that into college as they take their games onto the biggest stages of their softball careers.”
Besides Sage making plays in the 6-hole and Summer being behind the plate–if not found at the hot corner–the two are very similar. We asked how are the sisters are alike… and different.
“Sage is definitely the team leader,” Coach Malpass explains. “She is a strong middle infielder with a big lefty stick and the power to leave the complex every time she swings the bat.”
“Summer is the cheerleader of the two, always encouraging of others and is herself a quiet leader. She is selfless and a hard working. At third and catcher, she is very smooth and as a hitter always finds her way onto the bases.”
Malpass, who’s worked with the team for years, can spot the individual differences of the twins.
“For most people that do not know them,” she continues, “they think they are identical, but they are not. They are very similar in that they both are dependable, honest, have extreme work ethics and are true friends you can count on.”
“They are fearless athletes who can take a hit and it won’t phase them. It will be exciting to see all they accomplish together being allowed to remain a ‘team’ throughout their collegiate careers. They already know and have the work ethic and dedication it takes to prepare mentally and physically for the Big Ten stage. Purdue University is lucky to get these two Texas-produced ball players.”
Coach Dave McCorkle, who runs their Bombers 18U HTX club team, has had a front row seat to their development and sees a bright future for both when they suit up as Boilermakers.
“Both have a chance to contribute right away when they get to Purdue,” predicts their club head coach. “They have been playing at a high level for several years and will be ready to step in play in the Big Ten right away.”
He agrees with Malpass that Sage and Summer can be hard to tell apart on first glance.
“It’s hard unless they are playing (different positions) or working out on the field or in the cages,” the long-time club coach agrees.
“Sage is a middle infielder who can play both middles at a high level, and hits from the left side of the plate. She is a dual threat that can leave the yard occasionally and sprays the ball all over the field.”
“Summer is a third baseman and catcher who is a great receiver and controls the game well from behind plate. She will have a chance to play either when she gets to Purdue.”
Softball Successes
In club play this summer (2021), Sage was a team leader at the top of the lineup, completing the season with a team-high .459 batting average in 106 plate appearances and had 27 RBIs, 13 walks and produced a .562 on-base percentage.
She also came up big when it counted—in the last three days of the Alliance Fastpitch National Championship in Oklahoma City, Sage had a .667 batting avg with a .722 on-base percentage, a 1.000 slugging, and a 1.722 OPS in 18 plate appearances.
Playing at the high school level last Spring, she was both All-District for her softball accomplishments—starting for the College Station (Texas) High team that was a Top 50-ranked national team—and for her academics.
Despite a jammed and bruised thumb, Summer battled back hard during the travel ball season and finished her OKC tourney with a .357 batting average and a .545 on-base percentage.
Her last two days in the blazing Oklahoma heat she finished strong with a .624 batting average, a .727 on base percentage and a 1.477 OPS. She shined in the field all season long, finishing with a .986 fielding percentage.
Becoming Boilermakers
For the Boilermakers’ coaching staff, they’re getting two talented student-athletes in one household; so how did Coach Boo De Oliveria and crew get these Texas twins to head up to the Midwest environs of West Lafayette, Indiana?
The athlete’s mother, Doreen Scarmardo, picks up the story from here.
“Coach Boo and Coach (Dorian) Shaw started following the girls some time ago, but the Summer of 2020, when the girls were playing for Texas Bombers Gold National 16U for Joe Torres, is when the coaches followed and watched every game of theirs via Athletes Go Live.”
“We had played the Bolts 5 Star Showcase in Alabama and had played against top teams like Lady Dukes – Lamar, Tennessee Mojo, East Cobb Bullets and the Bolts and finished the showcase with a 2-1-2 for the weekend. The only two loses were by one run each. We could see what college coaches were watching each game via Athletes Go Live and knew they (Purdue coaches) had their eyes on the team.”
“On September 1,” the twins’ mom continues, “the Purdue coaches reached out via text at midnight, and the next few days each coach at the university spoke with both girls and on Sept 11, 2020 we visited the Purdue campus to see if it was a good fit.”
“The coaches could not be part of the visit or talk to us while we were there, but speaking to them after the visit and hearing from us how much the girls felt like Purdue was the “twin” to Texas A&M, the college in their hometown of College Station, Coach Boo set up an official call the very next weekend and, on September 19, 2020, the girls verbally committed to play at Purdue via a Zoom call in our hotel room while playing at a Bomber hosted tournament in Sequin.”
Impacting People Off the Fields
The girls not only perform at a high level on the field, they also do a lot to help others when not competing between the lines.
The twins created a service-oriented charity in March of 2020 during the start of the pandemic. It delivers food, cleaning supplies and other necessities to those impacted by COVID-19—especially to the elderly members of their local community—who could not get out due to concerns of contracting the virus.
All the items delivered are from donations the softball players pulled in from the community.
“Sage is also involved in service-oriented organizations like Elder-Aide, Angel Tree for the Salvation Army, and Secret Santa,” says their mother. “She has a real affection for the elderly population after having her grandmother live with her family the last years of her grandmother’s life while battling dementia.”
“Summer also gives of her time by tutoring at school and volunteering in the community,” Doreen explains.
The twins’ mom is proud of who her youngest children have become and that her twin girls will get to continue playing—and serving others—together at the next level.
“They are where they are athletically because of their extreme work ethic,” Doreen says, “and academics was a huge deal for my husband and myself. It was heavily factored into the decision-making process when considering which colleges they were looking at. Both girls are excellent students academically and are very well rounded. They are following in the footsteps of their two older siblings who are attending Texas A&M currently.”
The proud mother beams as she continues expounding on the student-athletes’ off-the-field strengths.
“More than their stats or their team accomplishments, though,” Doreen adds, “I am most proud of the young women they are. They are honest, kind, fun-loving, hardworking, sweet, giving, driven, and the best team players you’ll find. All they’ve ever known their whole lives of being a twin is how to share—it’s all they’ve ever done—and they’ve done it so effortlessly and selflessly.”
“Sage and Summer are truly shining stars and Purdue will soon find out what gems they have recruited. Purdue said this was going to be the first set of twins they have ever had and Coach Boo has been fantastic all through this process. The girls cannot wait to become Boilermakers and I, as their mom, am beyond blessed and thankful that they get to have this tremendous college experience together.”
— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball