Clarksville, TN – If Austin Peay State University softball player Lauren de Castro never gets another at bat, or make another start in the circle for the Lady Govs in her career, the senior will go down as one of the best players in the programs 29-year history.
But one hole in her athletic resume still drives her; as she enters her last go around through Ohio Valley Conference regular-season play and that’s a trip to the post season.
“That’s definitely the objective and what the season is all about,” de Castro said. “I would love to finish my career here at Austin Peay with at least one trip to the OVC tournament. I’ve never experienced that and I don’t know what it’s like.“It’s been several years since Austin Peay has experienced that as a program, so that would be huge for the program and a great way to finish out my career and by senior year.”
And what a career it has been in the red and white for the Torrance, CA native, as her name dots almost every top-10 list –both as a hitter and a pitcher – in APSU history.
“You can never think ahead that you’re going to do this or do that, but I did hope to be one of the big players here that could be counted on,” de Castro said. “That was a huge consideration in coming to Austin Peay, but I never thought I would put up numbers like I’ve put up.
“In high school I never put up numbers like this.”
And although not unheard of in college softball, not every team has a player that is one of — if not – the best offensive threats while also anchoring a pitching staff.
“It can be very mentally challenging, especially if one area isn’t working successfully and the other one is,” de Castro said. “It can easily have an effect on the other.
“If I have a bad at bat I have to shake it off and not carry it out to the next inning when I’m pitching. If I don’t, then I could have a bad inning pitching. So mentally you have to work on balancing out pitching and hitting and not let the two mix together.”
She has also had to battle leg pain her first three years at Austin Peay, something she not dealing with this season after having surgery over the summer to eliminate the problem and letting her feel her best physically in years.
But as her career draws to an end, and a final push to make the post season is underway, one thing stands out for de Castro … it’s all gone by to quickly.
“It (my time here at Austin Peay) has just flown by,” she said. “I feel like I was just a freshman just a year ago.
“I can’t believe that time has gone by so quickly, but then again, high school flew by quickly too. When you’re having fun everything goes by so fast.”