Oklahoma State University Athletics
Getting Back In The Swing Of Things
February 24, 2014 | Cowgirl Softball
Feb. 24, 2014
By Kelli Grashel
Third base is notoriously dubbed the "hot corner" because of the need to react quickly to hard-hit balls. For junior Gessenia DeLaCruz, pressure was coming down the third base line in more ways than one.
As a freshman in 2012, DeLaCruz started all 51 games at third base for the Cowgirls. That's where they needed her, but that wasn't what she was used to. DeLaCruz played at shortstop her entire life, and suddenly she was getting a new view on the field.
"It was pretty difficult at first, but you just have to go with it," DeLaCruz said. "They kind of just threw me to the wolves. I liked it after a while, but it took me half a season to get used to it."
Third base is easily considered one of the more difficult positions on the diamond. It's hard enough to be introduced into the Division I playing level. It's even harder to play at a new position.
"The ball is coming a lot and you don't have that reaction time when the ball is coming right at you," DeLaCruz said. "Shortstop is a lot different, you have to wait on it and do whatever you can."
With all the added pressure from moving positions twice, she has maintained a positive attitude and grown into a great teammate. Fellow junior Shelby Davis says that DeLaCruz is her best friend and a wonderful teammate.
"I can always hear her cheering for me above everybody else, which is funny because she has a really low voice," Davis said. "Off the field, if you ask her to go hit with you, she will. If you ask her if she wants to go field, she will say yes. She's always willing to go do more with somebody."
While she may have struggled initially, DeLaCruz patiently rode out her freshman year, finishing with a .252 on-base percentage. While focusing on her new defensive position, her offense started to suffer.
"On the field, she doesn't let errors affect her," Davis said. "If she messes up, then she gets right back to it, she doesn't let it bother her that much or that you see."
DeLaCruz did exactly what she would do in her position; she waited on it, and that patience paid off when she was shifted back to her natural position of shortstop.
"I think she's finally relaxed again," head coach Rich Wieligman said. "Moving her to third for her freshman year was tough on her, and then getting to go back put more pressure on her to be better. I think she's really starting to have fun again and enjoy the game."
Last fall, DeLaCruz started all eight games at shortstop for the Cowgirls. Subsequently, she started to improve offensively. She finished the fall with 12 RBIs, eight runs scored and a .226 batting average.
"She's always got a smile," Wieligman said. "She's tough, she smiles a lot, and she loves to be out there. She has fun out there; she takes one off the chin and will keep going. She doesn't make a big deal about it."
It's not uncommon for players to switch positions. Many of the greats changed positions in their time. Perhaps with two more successful seasons, people will be able to add Gessenia DeLaCruz to that list one day.
