WEST MILFORD Macopin Middle School student Robyn Jirouschek spent her holiday break playing softball with her new friends Michele and Cat. But the new friends weren’t in seventh or eighth grade. They included softball Hall-of-Fame inductee, Michele Smith, (two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and seven-time Japanese pro-league pitching champion), and Cat Osterman (Olympic Gold Medal winner and University of Texas ace) along with a host of other professional and Division 1 collegiate fast pitch personalities. Jirouschek spent some time at the Michele Smith Holiday Gold Softball Camp, held at the Eddie C. Moore Sports Complex located in Clearwater, Florida. For three days, 130 girls representing 25 states and the island of Aruba, attended the camp and participated in hands-on training in all facets of fast pitch softball. The girls had the opportunity to get personal instruction, participated in games, and enjoyed some off-time fun in the Florida sun. Michele Smith and Alicia Hollowell (University of Arizona All-Star and TeamUSA member gave the kids and parents a first-hand look at world-class softball pitching up close. Assisted by Michele’s longtime catcher from Japan, Debbie Schneider, Michele showed the young players that even at 39 years of age, the former “Jersey girl” could still bring it.’ Michele is originally from Califon, New Jersey and went to Vorhees High School, where her pitching career began. Her pitches average 66-67 miles an hour a speed that could result in a ticket on Route 23 if one were driving that fast. She offered the dads in the audience the experience one of her inside’ pitches in the batter’s box, but the response was a resounding “Thanks, but no thanks!” Many have seen that intensity on television, but what seemed almost effortless to these pros, was nothing short of amazing in person. Unfortunately, Cat Osterman was sidelined due to a recent injury, and could only assist in the instruction part of the camp. Also instructing the campers was Betty Zwingraf, also a Hall-of-Fame Inductee, and considered the “First Lady of Fastpitch Softball’ in New Jersey. Zwingraf was Michele Smith’s first pitching coach, and was a one time coach to one of West Milford’s own pitching sensations, Corinne Reiser, who is now Robyn Jirouschek’s pitching coach. The campers left with a great deal of information, new skills, and tips to bring their game to the next level; and new friendships were cultivated. When asked about how she liked the camp, and meeting some of the players, Robyn’s response, was “It was really cool meeting them, and have them help me become a better softball player. Everyone was so nice, they really worked you, I was sore every day, but it was really worth it!”