Female Athlete of the Week

Name: Kayla Zinger Year: Sophomore Major: Rehabilitation sciences Sport: Softball Position:… Name: Kayla Zinger Year: Sophomore Major: Rehabilitation sciences Sport: Softball Position: Pitcher Favorite Movie: “Super Troopers” Favorite TV Show: “Family Guy”

At the age of 8, Kayla Zinger made a decision that still affects her today.

She went from pirouettes to pitching.

Zinger started playing softball at the age of 8, choosing it over ballet, although the decision might not have been too difficult.

“I love softball because it presents so many challenges and it tests your character,” she said. “Besides I was getting too big to be a ballerina.”

So far it seems like she made the right choice. Her softball abilities have landed her across the country after growing up in Phoenix, Ariz.

“I fell in love with [Pittsburgh] and the atmosphere surrounding it,” she said. “The girls on the team made me feel welcome and a part of a family.”

And if that wasn’t enough to make her feel like she was back West, there’s always Qdoba, which she said was one of her favorite restaurants in Oakland “because it reminds me home.”

Zinger has also settled in as one of the Pitt softball team’s top starting pitchers.

This year Zinger is 9-7 with a 1.72 ERA, pitching the sixth no-hitter in the history of the University last Saturday against UConn.

The only base runner came in the top of the third inning, when Zinger walked a batter.

“I was semi-conscious of the fact that no one had really reached base, but I wasn’t focused on it,” she said. “I was mainly concerned with each batter as they came up to the plate. Once the game was over I could relax and celebrate with my teammates.”

Zinger said her teammates were equally responsible for the no-hitter thanks to playing great defense, even if they might not have realized a no-hitter was taking place.

“They didn’t realize what had happened until the game was over,” Zinger said. “In fact nobody really knew except my pitching coach and my dad.”

The very next day, against Providence, she pitched another complete game shutout but this time did give up two hits.

And if one thing is certain, it’s that Zinger ate the same breakfast and wore the same hair band as the day before. Both of those things, she said, she tries to emulate every time after performing well. Anything else, though, she isn’t as willing to discuss.

“During the game there are some superstitions, too,” she said, “but it would be bad luck to tell.”

The Panthers are 21-14 and 6-2 in the Big East, placing them in third, but Zinger and her teammates aren’t satisfied just yet.

“At this point in the year it’s about pushing the standard and going into each game with something to prove,” she said. “We don’t get enough respect for the things we have accomplished, so you better believe that puts a chip on our shoulder.”