Alexis Fuscaldo ‘22
Emma Tansky ‘21 has been playing softball ever since her parents first encouraged her to pick up a softball. Playing softball for almost ten years to this day, Emma Tansky values and cares for her teammates and always puts forth maximum effort in everything she does. She is a co-captain of the varsity team alongside Riley Hurda ‘21 this year, and has been a member of the team since freshman year.
Photo courtesy of Emma Tansky ‘21
Hurda recalls Tansky’s first year playing for Episcopal saying, “Emma came in freshman year new to EA and immediately took the role as starting pitcher, which was huge for our team because she was so full of talent and power.”
Tansky is a clear leader on her team and is always looking to help her teammates improve. Head Coach Kelly Edwards comments, “Emma contributes in the most important way possible. She brings her team into battle every game when she steps on the mound. On top of being a stellar pitcher, she is also our lead-off hitter. The kids gravitate towards her, and her humble attitude makes her accomplishments that much more impressive.”
Teammate Juliette Loor ‘22 says “Emma is always willing to point out where and when we should be in the most respectable manner. She uses all the hours she dedicates to softball outside of school to help adjust players who do not play year-round.” Hurda adds, “As a teammate and a captain, she is extremely selfless and is always helping her teammates before helping herself and she has been such an asset to our team.” Tansky is clearly loved by all her teammates and coaches and always gives it her all on the field.
Tansky’s talent and dedication to softball is evident in the many awards and championships she has won. Her district team won their Sectional championships in 2014, in 2015 she was named the Player of the Year for Lower Perkiomen Little League, and then, in 2018-2019, she was named to All-Inter Ac, All-Mainline, and All-Delco teams.
Tansky believes her role on the team is “to help create a positive and supportive environment. This creates strong team chemistry on the field, which is crucial to being successful.”
Loor says that Tansky’s “ energy during practice and on game days helps drive us all to be the best team we can be. She creates an environment where it is okay to make mistakes, as long as we learn something and adjust it in the future.”
Tansky has had many memorable moments throughout her softball career, her favorite being when she had the opportunity to pitch against Mo’ne Davis her freshman year. Davis’ team went to the Little League World Series that year and Emma said that it was “nerve-racking” to play against her. “I was nervous to pitch to her. Luckily, my rise was working extremely well that game and I was able to strike her out. That was definitely one of the most memorable moments of my career at EA.”
Like any sport does to an athlete, softball has had a tremendous impact on Tansky not only as a player but as a person as well. Tansky says, “The biggest thing softball has taught me is to not be afraid to make mistakes by having trust in myself and my teammates. Softball is one of those sports where you are more likely to fail than you are to succeed. Accepting this reality makes the mental part of the game much easier.”
Next year, Emma will be attending Hamilton College, where she will continue to play softball. Tansky said that, “I am super excited to be going to Hamilton. The campus is beautiful, the softball team and coaches are so welcoming, and Hamilton has great academic programs.”
Edwards agrees, “Hamilton will be a good fit for Emma. She is going to be a tremendous asset to their softball program, and I feel she will walk in on day one and be recognized as an integral piece to their team’s puzzle. I am so glad she found a school that will allow her to continue her love for the game on day one.”
Tansky has been a key asset to Episcopal’s team, with Hurda adding, “Trust me when I say that we would not be the team we are today without her.”
When asked what she was going to miss the most about Episcopal, Tansky said, “I think I will miss playing with the softball team the most. It is so rare to find a team where everyone gets along so well, but the EA softball team is one of those unique teams where everyone is so comfortable with each other. I am especially going to miss the spring break trips to Florida with the team.”