TORRINGTON >> Surrounded by her parents, administration, teammates and classmates, Torrington softball’s ace pitcher, Sydney Matzko, inked her name on her national letter of intent to play for the University of North Carolina.
“This is something that we’ve been expecting for the last three-to-four years,” said Torrington athletic director, Mike McKenna.
Matzko made the decision to go play for the Tar Heels the summer going to her junior year, and during last season she helped lead the Red Raiders to the No. 1 seed in Class L and a 23-1 record.
“I couldn’t ask for a better school to be going to,” said Matzko. “The school is beautiful, the softball team is great, and the coach is a Hall of Famer.”
The Tar Heels are coached by Donna J. Papa, a Waterbury native.
Matzko is hopeful that she will get a chance to play her freshman year.
“Hopefully, their ace is graduating and there is another freshman pitcher coming in,” said Matzko, who is a lefty pitcher and the other incoming freshman is a righty, hopes that they can form a lethal duo for the Tar Heels.
Chapel Hill, home of University of North Carolina, is a 10-hour drive from Torrington, but that won’t stop her parents Scott and Lisa, from going to watch their daughter play.
“It’s going to be tough. We wanted her to aspire to the highest level,” said Lisa Matzko, Syndey’s mother. “We will go see her, we will make it work.”
On top of being one of the most successful pitchers in state, a 2013 All-State selection by the New Haven Register, with 345 strikeouts last season and a minuscule ERA of 0.27, Matzko is one of the best in the classroom.
“Sydney is an example of what we want all of our athletes at Torrington to be,” said McKenna. “She’s fifth in her class; she has a 100-point grade average.”
Matzko’s signing is one of a few recent string of Division I signings by Red Raider athletes.
Jordan Williams, a 2009 graduate, signed to play basketball at the University of Maryland before going on the play in the NBA for one season, Ray Cswerko, a 2011 graduate signed to swim at the University of Maryland before transferring to Southern Connecticut State University. Sarah Royals, a 2011 graduate stars for the University at Albany women’s basketball team.
“This is the biggest one since, Ray, Jordan and Sarah, these are big deals,” said McKenna. “It’s a combination of all the drives and traveling to play all over the country.”
McKenna talked about how when he would leave baseball practice he would see Matzko stay after softball practice to throw more.
“I would tell her to go home,” joked McKenna. “But she deserves it, she put in the time.”
Because of her hard work and her tenacious effort that she puts into softball, her coach Maryann Musselman wouldn’t wish her luck.
“Good luck? I don’t think that luck will be needed her future,” said Mussleman. “I am so proud. Enjoy every moment of college, it’s going to mold her into an incredible woman.”
After the speakers and after Matzko had signed, there was a small chant from the crowd for her to give a speech, something she had not prepared to do.
“Thank you everyone for coming, thank you to my parents, my mom who catches me every day,” she said. “To my team, thank you for coming, we’re going to have a great season.”
