Student-athletes work hard and strive for success not only on the field but also in the classroom.

Dallastown sophomore Zoe Roland is no exception.

As a freshman, Roland was a starter on the varsity softball team and fourth in the batting lineup.

She was quickly recognized as a power hitter with a batting average of .500 and a total of five home runs in just her first year of high school. But her skills don’t stop in the batter’s box.

Roland has two main positions: pitcher, with an average speed of 56-58 mph, and her favorite position, third baseman. However, due to her versatility and skill, she is known to bounce all over the field.

“Zoe is a fearless player. She always gives her all, and she leads by example,” head coach Jaelyn Schuler said.

The talented sophomore has been playing the game since she was 10 years old and has been playing for the Panthers Select travel team for five years now.

Roland also carries that same passion from the field into the classroom as an honor-roll student. This year, she took AP US History along with her honors level core classes.

Many nights were late for her, between the assignments that were given out every night, studying, and softball practice.

“It is a delicate balance, but with dedication, it is achievable,” Roland shared. 

Honors and AP classes make her schedule extremely tight, but she still manages to thrive on and off the diamond.

“I see Zoe playing collegiately if she so chooses. She has a lot of talent and is very hard working, inside the classroom and on the field,” Schuler said.

With practices three times a week, as well as batting lessons with a professional, schoolwork seems impossible to accomplish.

Luckily, Roland has an amazing family that supports her in the journey of harboring her talent.

“I get a lot of help from my mom, dad, and little brother… I will always be grateful for how much my family will help me regularly. Everything would be significantly more difficult to manage without their help,” Roland stated.

This hard-working player has accomplished so much and has proven herself to be an extremely important and valuable asset to the Dallastown Varsity team.

And this season, this talented sophomore took the competition by storm.

She played a large role this year in securing their current record of eight wins and seven losses, and she grew as both a person and a player. She improved her mental game as well as her physical.

“I think, statistically, I experienced the most growth in my pitching. However, this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my teammates and coaches,” Roland said.

While the team this year was considered young, as there were seven freshmen on the team, the season was still considered successful.

“It’s a daunting task to be a varsity player as a freshmen, and every one of them stepped up and met the challenge,” Roland said.  “Our team energy and morale is also better than I’ve ever seen it. We are able to mesh and play well together.  This is only fueled by the enthusiasm and knowledge of our new coaching staff! The season is going great, and our success this year excites me for what we will bring to the field in the years to come!”

Gallery • 6 Photos

Sienna Seufert

Zoe Roland during the game against Red Lion.