Small Talk: Sam Marder

***On August 22 Sam was awarded the 2012 NPF Offensive Player of the Year

An All-NPF selection at catcher a year ago, Sam raised the bar even higher in 2012. In her second season she increased her home runs, RBI's, hits and doubled her walk total, all while hitting an outstanding .343. Sam, who was primarily the designated player this year, not only brings skill and talent to the team, she also brings personality and flare. She is loved by the fans for being a former Buckeye and also for being so out going and dedicated to the success of the Racers. There's no doubt that Sam will continue to get better for years to come in Akron!

Akron Racers Catcher Sam Marder on...

Sam battling Brittany Mack with the bases loaded

...how she's felt this year.

"Good, I feel like I'm finally seeing the ball really well towards the end of the season now. I went through a spell where I wasn't seeing it at all so I just went back to the basics. I finally feel like I'm at a place where I feel real confident at the plate and I'm seeing the ball really well."

...if catching less plays any part in her increased offensive output.

"I don't know that there's a correlation between that, Cas is an amazing catcher and I think what Coach Ive has done a great job at is letting people do what's best for the team to win. Cas is a great defensive catcher and if that's gonna make us win more then she's gonna be back there and I'm just gonna DH. Obviously my best asset to the team is hitting all the time. It definitely is a lot less wear and tear on my body to just go out there and hit. Obviously i love catching, but Cas does such a good job."

...is there anything you can do or have been doing to help the pitchers/catchers while the pitching is struggling?

"I don't think that our pitching is down a lot, it's that the offense has really picked up in the entire league compared to last year. Something I tell our rookies is the difference between college and here is these batters are going to make adjustments really really easily. If you leave something over the plate they're going to hit it. In college you can get away with making mistakes. Cas does a great job of going out there and making adjustments and we work together on what to call on certain batters I knew from last year. She's doing such a great job there's not much to tell her. The offense has just really picked up in the league this year."

...how the Racers are feeling going into the championship.

"I think that we feel really confident, I know that our record hasn't really indicated how good our team is this year but we have a really solid team. There hasn't been a series yet where we've put pitching, defense and offense all together. The championship series is a time where we're either gonna put it together or we're gonna go home. This team is really close, we have great players and we have great chemistry. It's good that we're going to be playing the pride the first round, because we're getting to see so much of them that when we go into the series we know all of them. Its going to be a very competitive series and were not gonna go down without a fight."

...being the team clown.

"Yeah I'm probably one of the biggest jokers on the team. Just because I have so much fun while I'm out here and I love it so much that its hard not to have a great time. We have so many serious people on our time, it's good to have a few people who keep it lighter. When I'm on the field I want to win more than anyone and I'm serious, but I think I'd be classified as a joker in the locker room."

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