Fourth-year pitcher Amber Carozza made history and she didn’t even know it.
Carozza pitched her first career no-hitter against SUNY Potsdam on Friday, April 5. The first game of a double-header, Carozza achieved this record during the Lady Hawks’ first home game.
When Carozza’s teammate congratulated her, she was unaware of her accomplishment.
“One of my teammates came over to me and gave me a big hug and I was like, ‘Why are you hugging me?’ And she was like, ‘Because you just threw a no-hitter,’” Carozza said.
Carozza has been leading the Lady Hawks’ pitching staff this season, recording an 8-4 record with a 2.03 ERA. She has been named SUNYAC Softball Pitcher of the Week twice, and was ECAC Upstate Softball Pitcher of the Week for the week ending on April 7.
Second-year outfielder Noelle Grande said the entire team was excited for Carozza and that her team -first mentality enables her to perform to the best of her ability.
“I was so happy for Amber and so was the rest of the team,” Grande said. “I don’t think she even knew she had a no-hitter since she is not the kind of player that thinks about herself during the game. She comes out and does her job as best she can.”
Head Coach Tony Ciccarello said it was a typical Carozza performance, where she was commanding the game.
“Amber was just Amber,” Ciccarello said. “Her ball was really moving, but she was doing Amber stuff. All of a sudden I see zero on the board, and I really wanted to say something to my assistant, but that’s a no-no, so I just kept my mouth shut.”
Grande said Carozza is not only a tremendous help to the team on the field with her strong play, but also off the field with her positive attitude. Carozza’s role on the team does not stop at pitcher, but extends to fostering camaraderie.
“On days she pitches, she goes out there and always gives us a chance to win,” Grande said. “She doesn’t ever seem to get tired because as soon as she’s done pitching, she’s back in the dugout cheering her teammates on while they bat. Her love for the game is contagious.”
Ciccarello enjoys his relationship with Carozza, and is also pleased that she is a team leader, despite not being a captain.
“She’s very happy-go-lucky,” Ciccarello said. “She tells me like it is, and I tell her like it is too. She’s not a captain or anything, but she is definitely an integral part of the whole dynamic of the team, keeping them loose, it’s keeping me loose.”
Moving forward, Carozza wants to work on the control of her pitches and to make sure that her team continues to be one unit on and off the field.
“[I am] working on my locations and keeping the ball off the plate, so the batters can’t touch it,” Carozza said. “We have to stay strong and we have to stay together, like a big family.”