Bulls’ Palmieri is Player of the Year

Published June 22nd, 2008

By Mario Sarmento
SPORTS EDITOR

To say Alyssa Palmieri loves softball is an understatement.

Even though Palmieri is a senior who was out of school a month early, and she has already secured a scholarship at the University of Memphis in the fall, the West Boca Raton shortstop has still been practicing three times a week in the Florida heat in order to improve.

That hard work showed during the past season, when Palmieri led the Bulls with a .519 batting average, hit two home runs and had 30 RBI to go with 18 stolen bases.

But for her the year was a let-down, as West Boca did not match the team success it had the previous two seasons, when the Bulls made back-to-back appearances in the Class 5A state final.

“Very disappointing considering we had seven seniors,” Palmieri said.

“We all wanted it the most, we’ve been there the longest – all four years.”

This year West Boca was unlucky, as it entered districts as the No. 3 seed and had to face Dwyer in the semifinals, with the loser going home for the summer. Dwyer won, and despite a 16-5 record, the Bulls watched as the Panthers made a run to the state final.

Still, the fact West Boca lost early did not detract from the season – and career – that Palmieri has had at the school.
“She led the team in hitting, RBIs, stolen bases,” Bulls coach Ron Hoyt said.

“She was the team MVP for the last three years, she was the spark plug for the team.”

Palmieri was more than just an offensive force, as she had a strong right arm and fielded her position as well as anyone in the state.

Softball has been in Palmieri’s blood since her father Nick, a former high school baseball player, introduced her to the sport at age 8.

She started by pitching and playing everywhere, but in seventh grade she decided she didn’t want to pitch anymore because “it was too much pressure.”

She made the transition to short, which ironically was also her father’s old position.

It’s also the position manned by Palmieri’s favorite player, New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter, someone who Palmieri aspires to be like.

“I feel he has a lot of potential and that’s what I want to have,” she said.

Palmieri had been on Memphis’ radar since her sophomore year, when Tigers scouts saw her playing on the Gold Coast travel team.

Last year the school contacted her, she went on an official visit and they offered her a scholarship. For her, it’s a chance to contribute to a young program that is only in its fourth season.

 “I feel I can go there and bring a bunch of excitement to their team, because I’m different,” she said.

“I come from South Florida and all those girls are from Texas (and other places). I just feel like it’s a different group of girls for me to go to and to play ball with, so that’s what I’m looking forward to.”

Watching the College World Series has stoked Palmieri’s thoughts about being in Oklahoma someday. She said she’s already visited the Series site and came away impressed and yearning.

“That stadium is amazing,” Palmieri said. “Yeah, that’s my goal, to get there.”

Hoyt doesn’t have any doubts about her ability, saying, “I think she’s going to do great.”

Palmieri’s ultimate dream is to play for the U.S. National Team someday, but she won’t soon forget Hoyt or the school where she first made her mark.

“(I’ll miss) my coach,” she said.

“The school was a great school, great athletic school. I’ll miss the girls, because they were really good athletes.”