Episcopal Academy’s Emma Tansky is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week
The senior pitcher has a 9-0 record and 1.21 ERA in 58 innings pitched, allowing only 36 hits and 14 walks while striking out 106 batters (as of May 10). At the plate, she is batting 22-for-37 (.595 batting average), with five extra-base hits, 12 stolen bases and 23 runs scored. Next fall, she will attend Hamilton College, where she will play softball.
Q: What do you consider your best pitch? What aspect of pitching are you working on the most?
A: I would consider my changeup to be my best pitch. I learned it at an early age and have been working on it ever since. It helps to disrupt the hitters’ timing and makes my other pitches look faster. This season I am really trying to focus on trusting my spins and not just throwing to spots.
Q: As a pitcher, after facing a hitter a couple of times in a game, you probably have a better idea of what to throw her late in a game. Can you give us an example of how this has worked in your favor?
A: I tend to remember which pitch they hit previously and will avoid that pitch again. I also will throw them what they’ve swung and missed earlier in the game. There was a lefty on Notre Dame’s team who would get a hit off me every at bat off an outside pitch. Last time I faced her, I threw her up and in to induce a pop up. It definitely helps to remember what has worked and what didn’t.
Q: What do you think has been the most important thing you’ve learned recently regarding hitting?
A: Recently, I have really been focusing on reading the situations as a hitter. If no one is on base, I will either slap hit or drag bunt from the left side, depending on where the fielders are positioned. But if we have runners on base, I will switch over and hit from the right side to try and drive them in or drop down a bunt if the defense is playing back to move our runners over.
Q: Tell us a little about your softball training during this past COVID pandemic year, the biggest challenges you faced as a softball player, and how you dealt with those challenges.
A: I never stopped pitching and still worked out with my travel team, the Pennsbury Gems Gold. I was also able to continue working with my pitching coach, Joe Ferguson, who really helped me to improve my spins this off-season. One positive thing was that I had more time for myself, so I started a workout program with Zack Zoller at Complete Game of PA. He has developed a strength training program very specific for softball pitchers which helped me develop my legs and core and it has really helped with my pitching. One of the challenges was that the recruiting process was a little difficult this past summer as college coaches couldn’t come to my travel team’s games, but luckily I was able to attend camps on campus before COVID hit.
Q: Tell us a little about your start in competitive softball. Who have been your biggest softball mentors, and what was the most important thing each of them taught you about softball?
A: I started playing for Lower Perkiomen Little League at age seven and made the move to travel ball at age 13. I can easily say that every coach I’ve ever had and every teammate I’ve played with has left a positive impact on me and has helped make me a better player. I also need to give credit to the three pitching coaches I’ve had over the years. I started with Maria DiBernardi at age 11, then worked with Dan DeMarco from ages 13-16. My current coach is Joe Ferguson. Each one has taught me different things such as sound mechanics, speed and spin development, and the mental aspect to the game that have helped me to become the pitcher I am today and I can’t thank them enough!
Q: Tell us a little about your pre-game preparation the day of a game.
A: I am very superstitious, so I try to keep my pre-game preparation the same every time. I’ll drink chocolate milk with my breakfast, and then vitamin water throughout the rest of the day. I’ll eat breakfast, lunch, and then a snack right before the game to make sure I have enough energy going into the game. In the morning, I’ll have Elliana Hopple (who is the catcher for EA) do what we call “my game day hair” which is always two braids into a ponytail. Right before I throw I’ll do some arm care, which includes band exercises and stretches.
Q: You wear uniform jersey No. 12 for Episcopal Academy softball – was there a reason you chose this number?
A: This has been my number since Little League and I have always tried to stick with it.
Q: What do you think you would like to major in at Hamilton College? Is there a career path that particularly interests you at the present time?
A: Right now I am thinking about majoring in biology. I would love to be a physician assistant in pediatrics.
Fun facts – Emma Tansky
Favorite book: All Quiet on the Western Front.
Favorite TV show: American Horror Story.
Favorite movie: Sinister.
Favorite athlete: JT Realmuto.
Favorite pre-game pump-up song: “Any song by Pitbull.”
Favorite team: New York Rangers.
Favorite place to visit: ESPN Wide World of Sports.
Favorite pre-game meal: Pasta.
Family members: parents Jason and Cheryl, brother Ryan.
(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her coach.)
