CORNING'S POLZELLA SIGNS TO PLAY SOFTBALL AT DIVISION 1 HOFSTRA (8 PHOTOS) (2024-03-25)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
CORNING — For Sophia Polzella there was always a goal of one day getting a chance to play Division I softball.

Now, Polzella will get that chance as the Corning senior signed on Monday to play softball at Hofstra.

“Honestly, D1 has been the goal the whole time,” Polzella said. “There were some ups and downs with that, but I know my goal was to go D1.”

When she first went to Hofstra the Corning standout realize it was the place for her.

“The coaches, and the college as well,” Polzella said. “But, the coaches are so nice and they keep you accountable for what you are doing. The school is amazing, it’s in a good place and all the girls are amazing.”

It’s been a long journey to get to this point for Polzella and the journey was rough at the start. As a freshman the Corning standout tore her ACL and spent nine months working hard to get back on the field. As she spoke during her signing she got emotional talking about that time.

“I was determined to get back on the field as quick as I could,” Polzella said of coming back from the iinjury to her right knee, which happened during a softball collision with the third baseman during a travel ball game. “Because the field is my home and it’s my safe space. So, I just needed to get back to the field and so I was determined. I had my surgery in Penn State and I went to Penn State 2-3 times a week every week just to get back my strength and get back on the field.”

Monday was a special day with family and friends in attendance to watch as Polzella made her college choice official.

“It’s very exciting,” she said. “And everyone who is here, I love all of them and am excited to play this season with all of them. It’s so exciting. It’s just a recognizable event and just to be with the people here and sign on the dotted line is so much fun.”

For Polzella this whole journey started with her serving as a manager for the varsity team at Corning, and now it leads to the day where she’s a team captain.

“Starting in seventh grade I was the manager,” she said. “I got to learn the Hawks way and I also learned the game of softball isn’t about you. It’s about your team and being a good teammate is the best thing you can be.

“Now that I’m a captain being the best teammate is probably the best thing about lordship as well and just being able to play at this high level with all these girls is going to be so much fun.”

The goal in college is for Polzella to keep working hard as a player and a teammate.

“Just being the best teammate I can be while also being the best player I can be,” she said. “That mental strength. Coach J (Mike Johnston) he’s all about the mental strength. It’s been a hard ride going with my mental strength, but it’s getting stronger and I’m ready to play.”

Playing with so many good players over the year at Corning, and in travel ball, Polzella has learned a lot about the game.

“Definitely my softball IQ (is something that has been helped by all the teammates),” Polzella said. “Atalyia Rijo and coach Rijo, they helped me learn softball IQ and how softball is supposed to be played and Molly Moylan, she didn’t go D1, but she is the manager for Elon softball and she taught me how to be the best teammate I can be.”

Getting to the D1 level like so many of her former teammates is special for Polzella.

“It means a great deal, because I learned from all of them and I looked up to all of them,” Polzella said. “I still look up to all of them and just to have the same level as them is amazing.”

And, seeing them succeed in college has only added to Polzella’s confidence.

“Just for example, Atalyia, she started her freshman year at Arkansas, so it’s pretty cool and it kind of gives me a sense of confidence that I can do that to,” Polzella said.

The Corning senior also had parents who played sports at the college level that she was able to learn from. Her mom played softball at Mansfield, before finishing up at Elmira, and her dad played football at Mansfield.

For the Hawks standout the one big thing she thinks has helped so many locals get a chance to play in college is alll the work they put in.

“Probably how hard we all work,” Polzella said. “There aren’t a lot of places to work here, but we all find the resources and if we need to we will go out of state for it. But, it’s the resources and opportunities we have around here.”
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