American Idol

On our recruiting trip to Elmhurst College in the autumn of 2009, we had dinner with the coach (Division III sandwiches vs. Division I steak) and a visit with the team during indoor practice.  A catcher spotted us right away and walked up to introduce herself.  The equipment couldn’t hide her personality.

“Hi, I’m Gina from Dixon Illinois,” she said taking off her mask to reveal a pretty face with the brunette hair tied back in the obligatory softball ponytail.  ”I mostly play the infield, but Coach needs someone to catch today.”  This upfront friendliness took us all by surprise.  Mother, father and daughter had barely survived the war of recruiting and travel.  If Gina had decided to crash her mask down on one of our heads, no one would’ve been surprised.  Maybe Clare was destined for Elmhurst, regardless; Coach did say she was looking for a power hitter, which was right up Clare’s alley, so to speak.  But having a stranger treat Clare like a friend and teammate didn’t hurt.

Gina was right.  She played wherever Coach wanted, mostly third and short.  Really good hands, great with a bunt and fast, more super-sub than starter.  She would’ve been perfect on the playoff team Clare’s sophomore year, but Gina skipped her last year of eligibility to graduate early.  She had plans, or dreams.

Gina wanted to be a professional singer, a calling that took her from North Side clubs to Nashville.  Last night, she appeared on American Idol, face-to-face with Jennifer Lopez.  Gina sat atop a drum contraption she beat with a foot pedal while doing a country-folk song.  She’s going to L.A.  The cameras caught her outside the audition room, swinging an imaginary bat.  The ball went further than I’d ever seen before.