Sophomore second baseman Constance Quinn leaps and snags a would-be single to shallow right field for the last out of an inning.
Quinn’s teammates expect this rare play after the countless hours she spent honing her natural athleticism since becoming a starter on her high school team as a 7th grader.
After spending the majority of her freshman season cheering on her teammates from the dugout, Quinn has earned her way into the starting lineup in 2015 with her determination to succeed and strong work ethic.
“[Not starting my freshman year] was a huge difference,” Quinn said. “It was also an eye-opener just to see how much harder I had to work. But also with that being said, it helped me to see what kind of leader I was off the field and how I played a role on the team in the dugout, helping and encouraging everyone and keeping everyone positive.”
Coming into her freshman year, Quinn was used to being a starter. However, the Tigers already had a consistent starter in then-senior infielder Allison Falcon, forcing Quinn into a reserve role for the first time in her softball career.
Quinn recorded only 19 starts in her first season, split between various infield postions and designated player.
After dreaming of starting for LSU since she was 5 years old, Quinn said she found it hard to accept her limited role during her freshman year. But she made best of it in two ways — taking advantage of her opportunities and being positive in the dugout.
Quinn made her 33 appearances count by hitting .317, notching three homers and tallying 16 RBIs.
Quinn was one of most supportive teammates in dugout throughout her freshman season, said LSU coach Beth Torina.
“She’s just got so much energy and just so much heart that having her on the bench was like having another player on the field because she was so loud,” Torina said. “It felt like she was out there with them the whole time. She does great at whatever role we’ve asked her to do.”
Quinn’s acceptance of her role and her positive outlook during last season earned the respect of teammates and her coaches.
She developed from not being able being able to take criticism to taking it in stride, said junior shortstop Bianka Bell, one of Quinn’s closest friends on the team.
Bell helped Quinn deal with her frustrating freshman campaign by taking her mind off it.
“My biggest thing was always [to] make me laugh, something to make me smile and get it off my mind,” Quinn said. “[Bell] was really good at that. It made me realize at the end of the day we play this game for fun. Just have fun with it.”
Bell and Quinn’s friendship off the field has translated into chemistry on the field.
In her sophomore season, Quinn has started all but one game at second base and has used her arsenal of tools to make plays at the plate. Quinn has battled back after struggling at the plate early in the season, hitting .277 and recording a career-high 17 RBIs through the Tigers’ first 35 games.
“She’s doing a great job,” Torina said. “She’s the best athlete on the team. She can just do so many things. She can run. She can hit for power. She can play defense. It was just a matter of waiting her turn and then stepping into the role.”
You can reach Morgan Prewitt on Twitter @kmprewitt_TDR.