Holcomb's Journey Across Two Diamonds

Oklahoma State softball's Maddi Holcomb didn't start her path to college athletics with softball.

She started with baseball.

Holcomb grew up watching her older brother play and she instantly knew she wanted to be out on the diamond. But it wasn't the softball diamond, it was the same one as her brother.

"I went up to my dad and said, 'can I play baseball,'" she said. "He was like, 'are you sure you don't want to play softball?' I said no, I want to play baseball."

So it was baseball.

Her dad started a team, and Holcomb was soon playing baseball, just like her big brother. Unlike now when she solidifies the Oklahoma State defense in the outfield, Holcomb was an infielder.

An infielder who pitched, and caught.

"If I wasn't pitching that day, I was catching," she said.

On the mound, Holcomb lived off her fastball and tricky slider, while she served as an efficient catcher the rest of the time to help lead her team. It was the perfect combination for her.

She played baseball until seventh grade, when her parents started pushing her to consider playing softball.

Eventually she would and started playing softball that year.

The transition from baseball to softball wasn't seamless. There are plenty of differences between the sports. A learning curve was expected and she had one.

The biggest difference between the sports she struggled with? Not being able to lead off anymore.

"I was so confused by everything," she said. "I didn't know why you couldn't lead off the base. I was like, what do you mean I have to stay here? I didn't understand why the girls were wearing shorts. It took a lot of transition."

To help with the transition, Holcomb started at first. Soon, as she started to pick up the game, she moved to shortstop.

Eventually, she found her way out to the outfield. Once in the outfield, she wouldn't move back to the infield.

At first the game seemed too fast. It was a different speed than what she was used to with baseball. Everything seemed new and different to her.

"Everything was so happening so much faster," she said. "I liked it. It was more in the moment. It took awhile to get used to the speed, but once I got it I liked it."

Her freshman year of high school, college coaches started to notice her talent and made her realize she had a good shot to play college softball just six years after she learned the game.

So she did, and found herself at Oklahoma State.

Oklahoma State coach Kenny Gajewski said he isn't surprised she played baseball growing up.

With her competitiveness and work ethic, nothing surprises him.

"I wouldn't put anything past her," he said. "She's a kid who really grew this past year and was coachable and I think it showed in the results that she got."

Seven years after learning to play softball for the first time, Holcomb helped lead the Cowgirls to the postseason with an incredible .469 batting average in Big 12 play with 15 hits and 11 runs.

It wasn't the easiest of transitions, but Holcomb found her way.

The baseball player turned softball player did it, she journeyed across two diamonds to find herself where she is today.

On the softball diamond, enjoying her time with Cowgirl Softball.

Oklahoma State University Athletics

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