Julia Apostolakos wins NJ Gatorade softball award as a junior
TOMS RIVER, N.J. (BVM) — Donovan Catholic junior Julia Apostolakos isn’t just a standout softball player. She’s also an excellent student, and even more impressive a selfless volunteer for countless charities. She is the epitome of an all-around student-athlete.
Apostolakos began playing softball thanks to her older sister, Kyleigh Norris. Norris, seven years her senior, is a former college player and recently spent some time as an assistant softball coach at Eastern University, an NCAA Division III school in St. Davids, Pennsylvania.
“I was always around the game because of Kyleigh,” Apostolakos said. “I think I knew how to play softball before I knew how to walk.”
By the time she was 5, Apostolakos was playing recreational softball in Toms River, and by 10 had joined a travel team as well. Aside from playing for Donovan Catholic, Apostolakos also plays for a club team — the New Jersey Cheetahs.
It’s no surprise Apostolakos was the pick for the Gatorade New Jersey Softball Player of the Year award. Her stats speak for themselves. She went 26-0 from the pitcher’s circle with 308 strikeouts and a 0.34 ERA. From the plate, she batted .656 with 11 homers and 59 RBIs while leading Donovan Catholic to the NJSIAA Non-Public A title over Mount St. Dominic.
“It’s a huge honor,” Apostolakos said. “I couldn’t believe it when my mom broke the news to me about Gatorade. It was an ‘Oh my God’ moment.”
The Griffins won their third straight title when they defeated Mount St. Dominic 2-0. Apostolakos did not disappoint with her performance in the circle or at bat. While pitching a two-hit shutout, including 16 strikeouts, Apostolakos also hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to seize the victory. The Griffins finished 30-0 overall.
Aside from the prestigious Gatorade honor, Apostolakos has racked up some other awards as well including MaxPreps Player of the Year, and first-team all-state in both 2021 and 2022. Unfortunately, Apostolakos did not have a freshman high school season due to the Covid-19 pandemic canceling the 2020 season.
The right-handed pitcher credits her high school coach, Debbie Schwartz, with being not only an incredible coach but a mentor as well.
“Coach Schwartz really cares about us and wants what’s best for us,” Apostolakos said. “She’s an awesome coach. She pushes us to be the best person we can be on and off the field. It’s easy for me to connect with her. I relate a lot to her because she believes in her faith a lot and so do I.”
Off the field, Apostolakos’ accomplishments are just as impressive. An A student at Donovan Catholic, Apostolakos is also involved with a number of school clubs and volunteers extensively for a variety of notable charities. She has devoted her free time to Habitat for Humanity, a local hospital, and the Toms River youth softball programs.
The 16-year-old is also the co-founder of Donovan Catholic’s Mental Health for Athletes Organization, which will officially begin in September. The club will hold weekly meetings, volunteer with the Toms River Field of Dreams, which is a field for disabled kids, and hold events throughout the year.
“I knew I wanted to start a club like this and I was a little bit nervous,” Apostolakos said. “One of my friends who is a swimmer helped me get it off the ground. With what’s going on in the world with all of the athletes and how many of them have taken their lives, it’s just terrible. It would be good to get involved in groups like this at a young age.”
Although Apostolakos still has a year of high school left, she has committed to the University of South Florida to play softball. It was the last school she visited.
“I went there and fell in love,” Apostolakos said. “I love the campus. It’s beautiful. I love the coaching staff, and I love the girls and the atmosphere.”
Though not sure what she wants to major in at South Florida, Apostolakos is certain she wants to coach and become a state trooper, and then a detective once she graduates from college and her playing days are behind her.
“I’ve always been interested in that kind of work and I like to stay active so I think it’s perfect for me,” she said. “I take a forensics class in school now and I love it.”
Based on her accomplishments at this point in her life, Apostolakos is sure to have a rewarding and successful future in the years to come.
