'I'm Enjoying Every Second Of It'
Stockton University senior righthander Nerina Tramp has always been a strikeout pitcher. As a senior at Highland in 2021, she struck out 164 in 119.1 innings.
That strikeout trend has continued in a big way during her college career.
Now a senior, she began the week with 424 career strikeouts. Tramp is second in school history in career strikeouts behind Michelle Pietrocola, who recorded 611 from 2011-14.
Those strikeouts for Tramp have led to plenty of wins. She began the week 43-22 in her career, the second most wins in school history behind Pietrocola, who had 53.
Tramp was a first-team all-New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) selection in 2023. Last year she was the conference Pitcher of the Year after going 14-6 with a 1.70 ERA.
She didn’t rest on her laurels and prepared to take it up a notch as a senior.
So far so good.
Tramp started out this week 11-4 with a 1.08 ERA, having recorded 117 strikeouts in 110.2 innings. Opponents have been batting just .173 against Tramp.
“I knew this was my senior year and we really wanted to make a run in the NJAC, so I put in the work did extra lifts, stuff like that,” Tramp said. “I worked extra hard in the weight room, extra hard outside of softball, so I wasn’t surprised because I knew I put in the preparation for it.”
She has been getting stronger as the season has progressed. In her last start of last week, she pitched a one-hitter in a key 1-0 NJAC win over Ramapo, striking out five and walking two.
Veteran Stockton coach Mavreen Hering, an Eastern High graduate, says coaching Tramp has been a true pleasure.
“She is a character person, and she is nothing but happy,” Hering said. “She is a chemistry major and gets great grades.”
As the statistics show, it’s not very fun facing Tramp.
“She will throw 60 (MPH) and has so much movement,” Hering said. “She throws hard, the ball spins and there is a lot of up movement. She is one of the better pitchers around.”
What makes her accomplishments more impressive is that Tramp competes in the NJAC, which is considered among the top Division III softball conferences in the country. Last week conference leader Rowan was ranked No. 2 in the Division III national coaches poll.
As for making a run in the NJAC, Stockton began the week in a three-way tie for fourth place with Ramapo and Montclair, all at 8-6.
The top six teams will earn a berth in the NJAC playoffs, but all three teams have William Paterson (7-7) on their heels. All the teams have four NJAC games left.
The fierce competition just never lets up in the NJAC.
“Honestly I look forward to playing Rowan every year because I just know it’s great competition,” Tramp said. "It’s going to be a good game no matter what.”
This year was a classic example.
With Tramp on the mound, Stockton lost a 1-0 nailbiter at Rowan. Considering she was facing one of the top offenses in the nation, Tramp had an exceptional game. She allowed just one unearned run in six innings on four hits, while walking two and striking out two.
For now, Tramp is hoping to extend her career as long as possible.
“My Senior Day was lots of tears,” she said. “I’m enjoying every second of it and trying to be present in every game and play how I know how.”
And for the past four years, that has been at an exceptional level for one of the all-time greats in Stockton history.
Photo: Softball pitcher Nerina Tramp / Courtesy of Stockton University
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Author: Marc Narducci
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