Published: April 17, 2008

Allison Storc, FCRH ’08, catcher for the Fordham University Rams women’s softball team, was named Atlantic-10 Player of the Week after a string of breakout performances for the Rams during the week of March 23.

The Rams went 4-0 during the stretch, and Storc batted .400 in 15 plate appearances, hitting two doubles and two home runs while driving in 10 RBIs. Storc hit her first career grand slam in a 9-1 rout over Iona College during the second half of a doubleheader on March 28.

“It was a great honor to receive the Player of the Week award,” Storc said. “That week I just felt extremely comfortable with my swing at practice and during the games. I didn’t feel the need to press at all; I just went up to the plate swinging.”

Storc, a communications major and business administration minor from Boynton Beach, Fla., has played softball since she was six and hasn’t looked back. Wanting to go far from home and experience something new, Storc decided to attend Fordham after recruiters took her to visit Times Square and Yankee Stadium.

“At that point, I was sold,” Storc said. Describing herself as a “Florida girl” through and through, Storc said, “My freshman year here was the first time I had ever seen snow.”

After going 0-2 during the second game of the March 28 doubleheader against Iona, reaching base on an error and a fielder’s choice, Storc would go on to hit a double and a grand slam in her next two plate appearances.

“I’m never really swinging for the fences,” said Storc, who is ranked third all-time at Fordham for career home runs. “It’s actually when I pressure myself that I usually don’t perform. I don’t think I ever really go up to bat looking for the fence; I’m looking to have a good at-bat, pick good pitches and put the ball into play. And if it happens to go over, I think that’s just a bonus.”

“When she is up to bat, there is always a feeling of comfort, because she is an amazing hitter,” said shortstop Samantha Pellechio, FCRH ’11. “If we were down to our last out, [Storc] would definitely be someone that I would feel confident with at the plate.”

Right fielder Jocelyn Dearborn, FCRH ’11, agrees with Pellechio.

“[Storc] has been so successful [in tight spots] and always has the confidence to do it,” Dearborn said.

In addition to her offensive capabilities, Storc is an excellent defensive player, as well.

“Behind the plate, she is very tough and capable of calling her own games,” said head coach Bridget Orchard. “The pitchers have a lot of confidence in her to throw any pitch, knowing that she will catch it.”

“Defensively as well as offensively, Storc is a leader on this team,” Pellechio said.

Whether she is recognized for her skills as a catcher or her prowess with a bat, Storc only cares about helping her team.

“I feel it’s enough just having the confidence of my teammates to trust me behind the plate,” Storc said. “I just give 100 percent every game and hope that we’re ahead when time runs out.”