There are certain players who just radiate likability and personality through the written page and today’s profile of a standout New York sophomore pitcher is a good example…

We love spotlighting players like these who are polite, responsive and, oh yea, pretty darn good between the lines. This 2017 had interest from ACC, Big East and Pac-12 schools but ultimately committed to a program for a very specific (and understandable) reason… read on to find out why!

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Name: SOPHIE DANDOLA
High School: Seaford
City: Seaford
State: 
New York
Grad Year: 2017
Club: Team Long Island
Position(s): P/1B
Height: 5-10
GPA: 3.65

High School Stats: 2014 – started and completed eight games pitching 56 innings and allowing only six earned runs (0.75 ERA) with 74 K’s with a 0.86 WHIP, also had 96 assists and eight put outs for a .981 fielding percentage; at the plate hit .621 with 11 walks, 31 RBI and five home runs.
Honors: 2014 – All-Nassau County, All-Long Island 2^nd Team (only freshman), softball captain as 9^th grader (first in school history); named Top 2017 pitcher at Top Prospects Fastpitch Combine (N.Y.)

Scouting Report: Sophie throws a fastball in the low 60’s complemented by a change, drop, rise, screw and curve. She’s an excellent all-around athlete who is tall and coordinated—she was All-Conference in volleyball this year.

College: Hofstra
Recruiting History (in Sophie’s own words):

I started playing softball at five years old.  I began pitching lessons at 8.  I joined Team Long Island at 14 years old and that’s when things really started to happen.

My travel coach, Angel Mangual, told me that I had a lot of potential and he wanted to see me reach that potential.  He said to work super hard and good things will happen.  He chose me to play with his “Top Prospects” team that also included other top softball players in our area. We played in the best showcases in our area from Team New Jersey to Rhode Island Thunders Showcase.

After playing in the Fall 2013 season, I was urged to start attending college camps so my dad and I hit the road… I was 14 at the time.

We went to the Syracuse camp first.  At the end of that camp, Coach (Leigh) Ross told my dad that I was on their radar and would be in touch with my travel coach.

I then went to Florida State in April of 2014.  At the end of the camp Coach (Lonni) Alameda invited me for a tour of the FSU campus.  Coach Alameda said that she was very interested and wanted to see me pitch in a game before moving forward.  In the end, Coach Alameda contacted my travel coach but I had already verballed to Hofstra which I will explain why shortly.

Fordham University in the Bronx, N.Y. was also watching me play at a bunch of showcases and I went to their camp too.  I was invited back for a tour by Head Coach Bridgette Orchard and they offered me a scholarship as a pitcher.

At the end of the summer of 2014, while at the ASA Nationals in San Diego, Calif., I went to the UCLA camp.  Coach (Kelly) Inouye-Perez spent about 45 minutes with me while I was pitching. She was calling pitches to see my control.  She said she was very impressed and gave me her card and said to keep in touch and wanted me to come back to their next camp.

I also went to UMass-Amherst, Boston University and St John’s camps. St Johns offered me a scholarship and according to my travel coach, Syracuse and FSU were about to do the same.

After coming home from California, I really wanted to stay close to home as I was home sick.  While all of this was going on, Hofstra – which is a 10 minute drive from my house – was watching me play at all of my showcases and tournaments and was very interested in me.

My mom and dad have been taking me to Hofstra softball games for the last few years and I always wanted to play college softball there. It was always my first choice knowing that my parents would be able to watch me play at such a high level of softball right in my own backyard.

When we got back from California, the new Hofstra Head Softball Larissa Anderson contacted Coach Mangual and invited me on a campus tour.  She told us that she wanted me to play for Hofstra and to come back when I was ready to decide on my college verbal.

She also offered me a scholarship as a pitcher.  I went back to Hofstra with my parents about a week later and told Coach Anderson that I would love to verbally commit to Hofstra to play softball!

One of the main reasons I decided on Hofstra was not only it being close to home or the high level of competition of their opponents but because of Coach Anderson.  She made me feel like I was already part of the team during my visit.

And after the last two camps I went to there is no doubt in my mind that I made the right choice—I wish I could start tomorrow!

I also wanted to give credit to my Seaford High coach Rob Perpall.  Going in to my third season as a Varsity Softball player (I began in 8th grade), Coach Perpall has started me in every game.  He has helped me to grow as a person and a softball player by putting me on the field with 12th graders so I could mature and get the experience I needed as soon as possible so I could become a better player.  I have not let him down and have batted at least .500 in each of my two past seasons and pitched our team into the playoffs this past season.

One final “fun fact:” I committed to Hofstra on September 12, 2014, which was my Mom and Dad’s 21^st wedding anniversary… I guess I kind of stole their thunder!