February 26, 1999

by Shannon Zappa

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- A three-time second team All-Big Ten selection; one of only 370 student-athletes to be invited to the NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference; the second-toughest player to strike out in the NCAA; the PEFCU Player-of-the-Year as a junior; the Boilers' Best Defensive Player honoree the past two seasons; team captain three consecutive years; a two-time selection to the All-Midwest Region second team... not a bad resume for a former walk-on.

On a cool fall day in 1996 Sam Mercier sat in the stands watching the Purdue softball team take the field. The Boilers, competing in only their third year, lit a fire in Mercier that no one could put out.

" I thought that softball would be too big a commitment," Mercier says. But after living in Owen Hall as a freshman and seeing her future teammates going to practice, Mercier came to the conclusion she belonged with them. "I realized I made a mistake and I knew I wanted to play."

And so the story began, the freshman from San Clemente, Calif., started her career as a Boilermaker playing second base. Early on in a Purdue uniform, Mercier stood out. As a freshman she was a second team All-Big Ten selection with such outstanding performances as a 3-for-3 day at the plate including a career-high four RBI in a 5-2 victory over conference rival Wisconsin.

"I knew about her abilities as a player in southern California, but she was not excited about playing," Purdue head coach Carol Bruggeman says. "And as any Division I coach will tell you, if a player isn't excited, then it is a big red stop sign. So when she appeared on my doorstep that first fall, I was as surprised as anyone."

In her second season as a Boiler, Mercier started right were she left off with one additional responsibility - team captain. Only a sophomore, Mercier took this honor and led her team to a school-best 41-25 record, a fourth-place finish in the conference and a first-ever bid to the Big Ten Tournament.

In 1998, Mercier was again voted captain, received her third second team All-Big Ten honor and was named to the All-Midwest Region team for the second year, but she did not stop. The NCAA added to Mercier's trophy case by recognizing her as the second-toughest player in the country to strike out, as she suffered just two "K's" in 197 at-bats.

Off the field, the NCAA took it upon itself to honor Purdue's student-athlete by nominating her to participate in the second annual NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference. Out of more than 850 nominations, Mercier was selected as one of 370 student-athletes to discuss coaching roles, communication and leadership skills and other topics related to their sports, campuses and communities.

Throughout her career as a Boilermaker, one thing has remained constant, Mercier will play second base and bat lead-off. In her three seasons, there has not been one game where Mercier has not started at second. The veteran Boilermaker has worked hard to reach a level to be competitive and remain at the top of her game. She is usually the first one to practice and takes extra ground balls to keep improving. The focus and determination has paid off, as Mercier hit a team-leading .350 and recorded a team-best 69 hits last season.

That is Mercier, always doing her best to get to the ground ball just out of her reach or remaining focused at the plate so she does not get a "K." Her style is to lead by example and that she does, on and off the field.

"Sam is one of those players that comes along and is a giver," Bruggeman says. "She would do anything for Purdue softball and our staff. When you are around her everyday you get to see what a great person she is."

Above and beyond Mercier's abilities on the field, she is largely involved with the community. Be it at Home Hospital visiting with the elderly or playing with underprivileged children, Sam can be found giving of her time and energy for the betterment of others.

"People look to Purdue athletes - whether it's football players, baseball players or softball players - to be influential in the community," Mercier says. "I take that very seriously."

"Taking Sam was probably the best decision I have made at Purdue," Bruggeman says. "She has taken our whole program to the next level - both winning and with her leadership."

Just as certain that the sun will rise in the east, so too will Sam Mercier be playing second base this spring in her fourth and final season with the Boilers. She will start off the batting order in the hopes of leading her a Boilermaker squad to the next level!

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