- May 23, 2025
Leah Stevens hugs Matanzas head coach Sabrina Manhart on Senior Night. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Juliet Fogel with her parents, Cynthia and Brett, and her sister Ruby. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Ashley Sampselle with her parents, Jay and Alexa, and sister Lauren. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Leah Stevens with her family. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Ashley Sampselle eyes a high pitch. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Ashley Sampselle throws a pitch with a runner leading off second base. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Ashley Sampselle throws a pitch in the seventh inning against Atlantic Coast. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Leah Stevens did not allow a base runner in the Pirates' 3-1 win over Atlantic Coast on April 16. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Leah Stevens pitched six perfect innings and struck out 15 in a 3-1 win over Atlantic Coast on Matanzas Senior Night. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Leah Stevens stood on the field with her family for Matanzas softball’s Senior Night and listened to Pirates football coach/softball announcer Matt Forrest read the accomplishments and departing words and memories of her fellow seniors, Ashley Sampselle and Juliet Fogel, as well as her own. And she didn’t get emotional.
“I don't really show all my emotions,” the Pirates pitcher said. “I wasn't crying today, but it is sad that this chapter of my life is coming to an end because I've had so much fun playing with these girls, but it also just makes me really appreciate all the time that I've had with them.”
The Pirates celebrated Senior Night on April 16 after they defeated Atlantic Coast 3-1. Stevens pitched a perfect six innings with 15 strikeouts.
Stevens will play softball at the University of Florida next season where she has also been accepted into the school’s University Research Scholars Program in the Center for Undergraduate Research and plans to major in aerospace engineering.
Sampselle will also be attending UF next year and plans to major in mechanical engineering. Though the Pirates’ volleyball and softball star won’t be playing sports in college, she said sports have helped her reach her goals.
(Sports) made me into the student and the person that got me into the University of Florida. I'm just proud of how far I've come over my high school career.”
— ASHLEY SAMPSELLE, Matanzas senior
“(Sports) made me into the student and the person that got me into the University of Florida,” Sampselle said. “I'm just proud of how far I've come over my high school career.”
Sampselle said that even though her mom, Alexa, graduated from UCF, and her dad, Jay, graduated from UNF, she has wanted to attend Florida for as long as she can remember.
“I was like 10 years old, and I just loved the Gators,” she said. “My grandparents lived there and the deal was when we visit them, if I was good we could drive through campus on the way home, because I just wanted to be on campus. I just wanted to see the school.”
Stevens and Sampselle have played on the Pirates’ softball team together since they were freshmen. Fogel joined them two years ago when her family moved from New Jersey. Since then, the Pirates have compiled a 37-6 record. They were 18-1 this season and ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 5A heading into their final regular-season game, Tuesday, April 22, at home against West Nassau.
“Senior night is always special,” Matanzas head coach Sabrina Manhart said. “And this year's been really a delight just because of how successful the girls have been, and the leadership that these three seniors have brought to the table, and not just this year, but you know, we didn't have any seniors last year. So, these girls have been leading this team for quite a few years.
“It's going to be tough to see them go at the end of this season," Manhart added. "Ashley Sampselle I’ve coached since she was in Little League. She and my daughter (Pirates junior McKenzie Manhart) played together for a long time, and so that's going to be different not to have her around, and her sister (Lauren) was here before that. Her mom is our booster president. Her family’s just been around for so long, and that's the other neat thing is these families really buy into our program and believe in what the girls do every day out here. We’re going to miss not just the seniors, but the support system that came with them every day.”
Stevens is buoyed by the fact that she and Sampselle will be at the same university next year and Fogel, who will play softball at St. Johns River State College in Palatka, will be just an hour away.
“It makes it easier that for college we’re going to be so close, so I’ll see them all the time,” Stevens said.
Sampselle plans to be right there in the stands at Gator softball games, cheering.
“Students get in free to softball games. So, as much as my school schedule will allow I will be there, cheering on Gator softball,” she said. “And I will be there, cheering on Leah.”
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