NUTLEY, NJ — Emily Holden is one of the leaders on the Nutley High School softball team this season. She is a standout left-handed pitcher as well as a dependable hitter. As a pitcher, she has thrown 11 shutouts, including three no-hitters, struck out 241 batters and boasted a 0.948 earned run average, while at the plate, she was batting .343 with 14 RBIs through May 17. She also recorded her 100th career hit on May 12 in the heartbreaking 10-inning loss against Mount Saint Dominic Academy. She will be attending Ithaca College next year. The Raiders are the No. 2 seed in the state North Jersey Section 2, Group 3 tournament that began May 23.
How did you get into pitching?
When I was in fifth grade, my friends and I just made the transition from baseball to softball. So, they needed a pitcher and a bunch of us decided to do it and start taking lessons and I have been pitching ever since. It was also very cool to be the pitcher back then!
Besides Yanticaw, what’s your favorite field in the conference?
I would have to say that my favorite field is Cedar Grove’s. It’s all turf and enclosed really nicely and you can also play under the lights. The dugouts are huge and they have nice bullpens as well. It is just an all-around solid field and I always enjoy playing there.
How many different kinds of pitches do you use?
I have six pitches that I use. I have a fastball, changeup, curve, drop, screw and rise.
Why did you select Ithaca College?
I selected Ithaca for many reasons. It is absolutely gorgeous up there and the surrounding area is extremely fun. They have the physical therapy program that I wanted to get into. It is a “guaranteed seat” program, which means that as long as I keep the GPA requirement I will go to Ithaca for six years and get my doctorate and undergraduate from the same school instead of trying to apply to a graduate school. They also have a great softball program that they run there which I am extremely excited for. It is Division III, which makes it possible to have my major and play softball at the same time. The second I stepped foot on the campus I loved it and I really like the people as well. I think it is going to be a great experience.
What is the highlight of your softball career so far?
I have had a few great moments in my softball career, but the greatest one was my walk-off double to win the sectional title last year. It was against one of our school’s biggest rivals, West Morris. We went into extra innings and in the top of the 8th they scored. Now it was bottom of the 8th, down 1-0. When I got up to the plate it was 2 outs, both seniors on first and second. I went down in the count 0-2. I was very nervous but I managed to foul a few off and work the count to 2-2. I hit the ball in the left center gap and we won 2-1! I still get chills thinking about it and it was definitely one of the greatest moments of my whole life.
This year your pitching arm carried the team.
As a kid, did you win a lot of snowball fights?
We have had success this year for many reasons. We have a great defense and coach calls a great game . But I have always had a pretty strong arm so when my sisters, cousins, friends and I had snowball fights or played any games involving throwing, I was usually the first girl chosen.
Have you made any plans for the summer?
Yes! I plan on doing a lot of really fun things this summer but what I’m looking forward to the most before I go away to college is going to Turks and Caicos with my entire family. There are 23 of us and this may be the last time we can go all together and it is going to be so fun. I am very close to my family and I can’t wait for this trip!
What’s on your music playlist these days?
I have a very scattered taste in music. I pretty much like every kind of music and it is whatever I am in the mood for. Anything from country to rap to contemporary r&b to pop- I love it all!
Senior Emily Holden added by Editor on
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