Eastern's Serata says softball Vikings can go far
As do most seniors, Emily Serata feels an urgency to make the most of her final high school season. Serata has been playing with many of her Eastern High School teammates for her entire career. She's part of a core group of seniors who are three- or four-year starters.
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As do most seniors, Emily Serata feels an urgency to make the most of her final high school season.
Serata has been playing with many of her Eastern High School teammates for her entire career. She's part of a core group of seniors who are three- or four-year starters.
But what's different about this season, in what might seem like a paradox, is that Serata says she doesn't feel any pressure to perform.
She wants to excel. She just doesn't feel as if she has to excel.
"As a senior, I feel more relaxed than ever," Serata said. "I have so much confidence in the girls around me, and I know that with this team everybody has everybody's back.
"That takes the pressure off. You just relax and play."
Serata and the Vikings have been playing at a high level.
The senior, who plans to attend Tufts University in Medford, Mass., and play for the three-time NCAA Division III national champions, has helped Eastern fashion a 14-game winning streak after a 2-2 start.
Serata, an outfielder, was named the most valuable player of the prestigious, 16-team Hammonton Tournament on Sunday after sparking the Vikings to four victories over two weekends.
Serata hit a home run in the championship-game victory over Bishop Eustace. She was 7 for 16 on the week with seven RBIs and added two more RBIs in the Vikings' victory over Olympic American rival Cherokee on Monday.
"Emily is a threat every time she steps in the batter's box," Eastern coach Laura Stagliano said. "More importantly, she is one of the more coachable players I have come across in my coaching career.
"She has worked so hard on her game the last four years."
Serata, who lives in Voorhees, is a top student who plans to major in biology at Tufts, with an eye on attending medical school. She has a goal of becoming a surgeon.
Serata said she was drawn to Tufts because of its high academic standards, its location just outside Boston, and its softball program.
"I want to play softball, but because it's [Division] III, I feel like I'll have time for studies and social [life]," Serata said. "That was important to me. They have a great program, but there will be time for other things."
Serata said team chemistry has been a key to the Vikings' success this season.
"This team is different than some teams I've played on in the past," Serata said. "Everybody picks everybody up, even when something goes wrong. We're so supportive of each other."
Stagliano said Serata is a quiet leader for the Vikings.
"Emily is a lead-by-example kind of player," Stagliano said. "She is not the most vocal, but it's quite clear that her teammates have a great deal of respect for her."
Eastern has been overshadowed a bit in recent seasons in both Olympic American and South Jersey Group 4 play by Washington Township, the three-time defending conference and sectional champion.
Eastern's last loss was 5-4 to Washington Township in an April 4 game in which the Vikings held a 3-0 lead entering the seventh inning.
Since then, Eastern has been one of South Jersey's best teams. But Serata knows the next month, which will include a May 16 rematch with Washington Township as well as the sectional tournament and a possible third meeting between the teams, will go a long way toward defining her final season.
"They've always had our number," Serata said of Washington Township. "We have a group of seniors who have been together our whole careers.
"We know this is the last time we'll be playing together. We think we can go far."
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