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Star Long Beach Poly softball junior Emoni Lam Sam committed to Cal earlier this week, wrapping up a frantic recruiting schedule where she weighed several options. Lam Sam was a first-team All-Moore League infielder for the Jackrabbits last year.
A member of a big family in the city, Lam Sam said her phone has been flooded with congratulations messages after making her commitment public.
“It’s been overwhelming with a lot of congratulations and people telling me they’re proud of me, especially my family and close friends–they’ve been showing me so much support,” said Lam Sam.
Like a lot of top players, Lam Sam was grateful to have options in the recruiting process but also found it stressful.
“It was hard responding to everything and honestly it was hard to tell coaches no,” she said. “But I can only choose one school. Cal was an underdog but I felt at home there.”
Lam Sam said that she was drawn by the opportunity to go to a prestigious school that will let her represent her home state while getting a little distance from Long Beach–but not too much.
“I love that it’s in California and I have California across my chest,” she said. “It doesn’t feel far from home–I know it’s far but it’s also close.”
Lam Sam is hoping to compete for a starting spot at third base as a true freshman, and with her glove skills and big bat she should absolutely be in the mix from day one. Lam Sam also said it was helpful having a Jackrabbit teammate who’s going through the recruiting process to lean on. Classmate Ki’ele Ho-Ching, last year’s Moore League Player of the Year as a sophomore, was also flooded with messages from NCAA coaches when the Sept. 1 recruitment period opened.
“On August 31 the day before we get all the calls, Ki’ele and I were talking to each other and praying with each other about it,” she said. “I see Tiare (now at Arizona State) and Ki’ele as sisters, for us to go through this process together is helpful, especially growing up playing with Ki’ele my whole life. We’d talk about what we like and don’t like, we can be honest with each other about everything.”
With her college choice solidified, Lam Sam is looking forward to focusing on school and softball for the rest of this school year and next.
“It took a big weight off my shoulders,” she said. “It makes everything easier. I can just focus on academics and softball, I don’t have to worry about anything else.”
