By ADAM KUJAWSKI, Staff Writer
It has been apparent for some time that Kelcie Swink would play softball in college. That expectation became a reality April 6 when she signed with York College in Nebraska.
“They really welcomed me in as if I was family,” Swink said. “I got to stay in the dorms with the girls and I got to practice with them. They really treated me as if I was already a part of the team and I just fell in love with it.”
The prospect of playing softball at York was sweetened by the possibility of supplanting its current first baseman. Swink plays that same position for Port Isabel and owns an outstanding .514 batting average to go with 12 RBIs.
“There’s a senior,” Swink said. “She’s been there for a while, but the coach said that if I go in and I work hard that I might be able to take her spot.”
If she is going to make the starting roster as a freshman, Swink realizes she’s got to improve on her patience at the plate. Her batting average tells one story, but she would like to be a more balanced hitter.
“I’m really anxious in the box,” Swink said. “Sometimes I feel like I really want to hit it as hard as I can, and I just need to focus on hitting. I strike out a lot because of that.”
Swink has been a staple on the Lady Tarpons softball team since she was a freshman. Her coach, Jesus Garza, knew he had a special player since Day 1.
“I picked her up when she was a freshman,” he said. “We didn’t have a first baseman, and she came in and she had the tools and she’s been working on it every year. She’s had what it took since she started.”
Swink is a year-round athlete for Port Isabel. She plays volleyball in the fall, basketball in the winter and, up until this season, competed in track & field alongside her softball season.
Realizing her need to prioritize softball led her to forgo track & field this year, a decision that helps define Swink in the eyes of her coach.
“She put aside track for softball, which is a big step for a kid to do. Especially in high school,” Garza said. “In their senior year, a lot of kids want to do a lot of things, and she put something aside just for this, which tells me that there’s a maturity level there.”
Her multisport capabilities will likely carry over to York, where she intends to play basketball in some capacity.
But before she looks too far ahead, Swink wants to focus on finishing out the Lady Tarpons’ season. P.I. sits atop District 32-4A and appears poised to make a statement in the playoffs.
“I hope we go at least three rounds in the playoffs,” she said. “I think we can go even further, but I think that’s a realistic goal.”
Adam Kujawski covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @adamkujo1.