IHA Freshman has Bright Future Ahead

Steph Thomas, a freshman pitcher, has had quite the first year at playing softball for the successful Blue Eagles. The team is 24-3 and just recently won the league championship with a win over DePaul and the county championship with a .

Thomas recorded a 4-0 pitching record last week earning her NFCA MaxPrep awards through the week that ended May 23.

"It is such an honor to receive an award like this," said Thomas. "I am happy that my hard work has paid off in an award such as this as well as my season as a whole."

Thomas has achieved so much, especially considering that she had to undergo an emergency appendectomy that was not easy to recover from.

"It was a tough return to health, but I got through it with my team's help," Thomas said.

Team moments like that stand out in Thomas' mind along with a few other moments from the season.

"In the Mount Saint Dominic Invitational, IHA and Pequannock, my hometown high school, were set to play each other. It was a tough game with a difficult loss, but it was an interesting experience to play my sister, as well as girls that I have known my whole life," she said.

There are also victorious moments that the young pitcher will not soon forget.

"Recently, we won the county championship as well as the league championship two days later," Thomas said. "It is a great feeling and amazing moment to have two titles under our belt as we go into the state tournament."

Thomas has had an excellent year and certainly has an extremely promising future along with her other IHA teammates. Thomas has enjoyed her time playing with them and for the hardworking coaching staff.

"They have so much to teach our team, and I enjoy learning new things every day. They are supportive and always push us to be the best of our ability," she said. "I love having them as coaches."

When Thomas is not on the softball field she can be seen snowboarding, snowmobiling, jet skiing or spending time with family and friends.