St. John's University Athletics
St. John's Softball Senior Spotlight: Ellen Czuba
4/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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QUEENS, N.Y. -- Now halfway through the 2015 season, Red Storm Sports had the opportunity to catch up with one of the St. John's softball co-captains, senior Ellen Czuba.
A three-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team honoree and 2014 BIG EAST Tournament All-Tournament selection, Czuba has been a steady force for the Red Storm throughout her four years in Queens. A slap-hitter by trade, the senior outfielder has put together 100 career hits, including six doubles, as well as 17 RBI, 23 walks, six hit-by-pitches and five stolen bases.
Catching Up With Ellen Czuba
Q: What has been your favorite part of being a member of the St. John's softball team for the past four years?
A: The best part of my experience at St. John's has been watching the team transition from a program that hoped to just make it to the BIG EAST Tournament to a team that expects to win the BIG EAST Championship. Each year we've grown considerably stronger than the year before and it is exciting to watch the program continue on an upward spiral.
Q: What has been your most memorable moment on the softball diamond during your time at St. John's?
A: Last year at FAU when Erin [Burner] hit a three-run, walk-off home run to give us a 3-2 win. I've never been more excited on the field in my life. I remember people crying because they were so happy (over a spring training game that essentially didn't count for much) and I remember realizing then that we had a group that cared about the game and a team chemistry that would take us far during BIG EAST play.
Oh, and also when little Lexi [Robles] and Yvonne [Rericha] hit their first career home runs!
Q: Over the past three seasons, what has been your favorite field to play on and why?
A: USF. The facilities are great and there is always a crowd at the games. Their speaker system is awesome and you just feel like you're playing in a real ballpark. I think if Red Storm Field could upgrade its speaker system, however, then I might call that my favorite field.
Q: What game are you most looking forward to this season?
A: I try not to look past the next game. I think it's important to take it all one pitch at a time and reflect later on. Each game is no more or less important than the next and that's the way we have to play in order to be successful.
Q: What is your personal goal for the season?
A: My personal goal for the season is to be a good teammate.
Q: Off the field, what has been your most memorable moment at St. John's?
A: For some reason, we happen to run into a lot of celebrities when we're traveling as a team: The Bachelor, Kris Jenner, Hulk Hogan... Those have been some of the most memorable and funny moments for me off the field.
Q: What piece of advice would you give to an incoming freshman looking to play softball at St. John's?
A: Stay positive and work hard. You'll earn opportunities to play that way. Just be thankful to be surrounded by a group of equally talented athletes who can pick you up when you're struggling.
Q: What are your plans come graduation in May?
A: At the end of the season, Erin [Burner] and I are headed to Costa Rica for a few weeks and then I'll be in California for most of June until I start working in July. I've accepted a full-time position with a company called EMC in their HR Leadership Development program. I'll be going through three different nine-month rotations, starting in Boston, and will be placed in a permanent role at the conclusion o the (approximately) two-year program. As far as softball goes, I think I've had one too many concussions, torn ligaments and broken fingers to continue playing seriously, but I've enjoyed coaching young girls in the past so I would like to pick that up in the future just for fun.
Q: If you didn't play collegiate softball, what do you think you would be doing instead?
A: I probably would've stuck with figure skating and became the next Chazz Michael Michaels.
Q: What is one piece of advice you want to share with your team before heading into your final season with the Red Storm?
A: 10 years from now, no one is going to remember stats or numbers and you're not going to remember how many times you struck out, walked or swung at a bad pitch. The only thing anyone is going to remember about you is the way you made them feel and whether or not you were a supportive teammate, regardless of your personal successes or failures. Don't be the person who blows off high fives and throws the bat against the dugout after a strikeout. Be the person who cares more about team accomplishments and never makes excuses.
Throughout the course of the season, Red Storm Sports will join the team's other two graduating seniors as they make their final journey to Rosemont. Check out all of the softball senior spotlights by clicking below:
Francesca Carrullo
Mackenna Neuroth
Ellen Czuba
Erin Burner (coming soon)
The Red Storm will return to action this weekend as it hosts Providence in a three-game series on April 11-12.
For all the latest news on the St. John's softball team, log on to RedStormSports.com and follow the team (@StJohnsSoftball) on Twitter. You can join the conversation with the hashtag, #SJUSB. If you would like to be added to the St. John's softball mailing list, send an email to stjcommunications@stjohns.edu with the subject line "Softball Mailing List".
