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Get Scouted Scouting CareersThe bullying started badly and got progressively worse.
First came the verbal abuse: teasing and derogatory comments by elementary school classmates.
Then came the physical abuse: stuffing into lockers and pushing down flights of stairs in middle school.
Classmates even stole her clothes.
She reported the bullying to administrators at her Pennsylvania middle school. But, according to her, nobody listened.
With serious thoughts of suicide, she ended up in a hospital for 11 days.
“I wanted to die,” National Scouting Report softball prospect Samantha “Sammie” Bittenbender acknowledged.
Sammie said female classmates were jealous of her because she was such a good athlete – so good, in fact, she played on boys teams. They also were jealous, she said, that her hard work in athletics paid off far more than theirs.
Actually, she didn’t play on travel teams or attend camps because her family couldn’t afford it. She received most of her coaching from her mom, who took her to a nearby park as a child and taught her to play every position of every sport she was interested in.
“My mom used to say: I’m the one that nobody wanted,” Sammie said.
How Samantha Overcame Bullying
After moving from Pennsylvania to New Jersey, Sammie, 16, has emerged as a three-sport standout — field hockey, basketball and softball — at Belvidere High School.
Softball is her first love. A 5-foot-8, 160-pound sophomore, she plays every position, including pitcher and catcher, and plays them well.
After leading her freshman softball team in home runs and RBIs, Sammie rapidly rose to JV and varsity. NSR scout Alan Zenobi discovered her by accident last April while scouting softball prospects at Verona High School. Playing center field in her first varsity game, Sammie stood out among all the other players.
“She made two or three outstanding plays in the field, had a cannon arm and hit the ball really well,” Zenobi recalled.
During the game, Zenobi saw a mom cheering for the visiting Belvidere players. He darted over to her and asked: “Who is that center fielder?”
“That’s my daughter,” she replied.
Zenobi set up a meeting with Sammie’s family to interview the 2018 softball prospect for college coaches, teach the family about the college recruiting process and offer NSR’s help in getting Sammie recruited.
Sammie’s family jumped at the opportunity. They sold two old cars to make a down payment to NSR.
“When I met Alan, my entire life exploded right before my eyes,” Sammie said. “He gave me the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Zenobi did more than that. He also arranged a tryout for Sammie with the Ramapo Rage 18U travel softball team, for which 2018 NSR softball prospect Alexis Corra plays. Sammie made the team.
Not only is Sammie a gifted athlete, but she’s also a good student. She hopes to use her athletic talent and 3.3 grade-point average to earn a college scholarship. Her ultimate goal is to become a writer.
“If I get a scholarship to a D-I college, I would be very happy and excited,” Sammie said. “But I would probably feel more comfortable at a D-II school.”
Life After Bullying is Better
It has taken Sammie a long time to feel comfortable in her own skin. But, after years of bullying, she’s finally starting to feel good about herself.
“Life is easier,” she said. “It’s hard to accept what happened to me. I’ve had a hard time letting it go. But it seems a little easier now.”
Sammie started a blog in 2012 to help other bullying victims. Her goal was to attract 1,000 followers. She has far surpassed that and wants victims to know life can be better.
She repeated a quote that has helped her cope.
‘“Every time you are convinced you couldn’t move on, you did,’’’ she said. ‘‘‘Every time you thought you couldn’t move forward, you did. Every time you thought you weren’t strong enough, you were. It shows you are strong because you lived through it.’’’
National Scouting Report is dedicated to finding scholarship opportunities for athletes who possess the talent, desire, and motivation to compete at the collegiate level. We’ve helped connect thousands of athletes with their perfect college.
Nice story