WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A four-year letterwinner in softball, volleyball and basketball as a prepster, freshman infielder Samantha Peltz is turning her attention to the diamond as a collegian.
"Sam is a very solid infielder," head coach Boo De Oliveira said. "She played baseball for a long time before transitioning to playing softball. She has good range, strong instincts, and is a very polished defender. Sam will compete both at second base and shortstop for us this season."
The four-time all-conference selection batted .636 with 25 extra-base hits, 24 RBI, 38 runs and 13 stolen bases as a senior. Add in her .949 fielding percentage at shortstop that season and it is easy to see why the Glendale, Wisconsin, native garnered team MVP honors and went on to all-conference, all-area and all-North Shore accolades.
Sam's most memorable sports moment was winning the little league baseball championship when she was six or seven and then eating celebratory ice cream until she was sick. Who knows when that kind of celebration will be called for again in her Boilermaker career? If it is, you can bet that chocolate fudge brownie ice cream will be on the menu.
The three-year National Honor Society member and Purdue Presidential Scholarship honoree has lofty goals on and off the field, dreaming of a job in aircraft body design. It seems almost fitting then that before every game she has to listen to Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra.
Learn more about Sam below.
Fun Facts
Sweet or salty: Sweet
Chocolate or vanilla: Chocolate
Dogs or cats: Dogs
Cooking or eating: Cooking
Vacation: To the quiet country or to the big city: Quiet Country
Coolest place I've ever been/or most unique locale: Toledo, Spain
Place I dream of visiting someday: Normandy, France
Person I look up to most & why: My parents for their will and determination to achieve their goals no matter how impossible they may seem
Best feeling in the field (defensively): Making an unconventional play and still throwing the batter out
Best Feeling at the plate (offensively): When the ball off the bat hits the sweet spot and you can barely feel the contact but it goes far
Favorite thing about my position: The amount of infield I get to cover and the different possible plays/throws to make
Three words that describe me: Sarcastic, Competitive, Helpful
One word to describe my game: Relaxed
Team I am most excited to play in 2016: University of Wisconsin
My most memorable sports moment: Winning the little league baseball championship when I was six and then eating celebratory ice cream until I was sick.
Celebrity crush: Matt Damon
Celebrity who would play me in a story of my life: Blake Lively
Person I would like to have dinner with: Derek Jeter
Best non-athletic talent: Drawing
My stupid human trick is: I can cross both of my eyes one eye at a time
Dream job: Aircraft body design
Song I have to listen to before a game: Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra
Favorite thing about playing at Bittinger Stadium:The field is amazingly well kept. It plays brand new every time you step onto it
My favorite place to play in the Big Ten, besides home: I'm excited to play at Minnesota
Place I am most excited to play in 2017 Hawaii
Person who has impacted my life/made me who I am: My older brother DJ
Favorite things
Favorite sweet treat: Milky Way
Favorite ice cream flavor: Chocolate Fudge Brownie
Favorite holiday: Christmas
Favorite sport besides softball: Major League Baseball
Favorite sports team: Cavaliers
Favorite Athlete: Derek Jeter
Favorite TV show: Narcos
Favorite Movie: Casablanca
Favorite Book: The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Favorite Musical Artist: Frank Sinatra
Favorite type of pizza: Thai chicken
Favorite Actor & Actress: Chris Pratt and Blake Lively
Favorite Food: My mom's chicken curry
Favorite place on campus: Purdue airport
Favorite city: Toledo, Spain
Favorite outdoor activity: Camping
Favorite animal/furry friend: Sea otters!
Favorite class at Purdue: Com 114. It was so much fun.
Favorite Purdue professor: Professor Richards
