Sophomore infielder Del Calvo sees potential in Tiger teammates

Kristin Del Calvo was not always a softball player.

The sophomore first baseman began her career on the diamond in the pressure cooker of boys tee ball at a young age.

"My little brothers played baseball," Del Calvo said. "My dad just kind of stuck me out there with them."

Those brothers went on to play on the court, rather than the baseball diamond. Both now pursue athletics in basketball. Kristin stayed with baseball until requirements demanded otherwise.

After switching over to softball at the age of "eight or nine," she parlayed her talent into a spot on the prestigeous St. Thomas Aquinas school team in Ft. Lauderdale. The team enjoyed a high level of success — not to mention national recognition.

"At one point we were ranked No. 2 in the nation," Del Calvo said.

Her impressive high school record reads that those of many Tiger athletes. At St. Thomas Aquinas, the teams she played on — as a four-year letter winner — won four league district championships, two of those advancing to win the regional championship as well.

In addition to being named league defensive player of the year once, Del Calvo matched her on the field performance with those in the classroom; she was named to the National Honor Society, the National Hispanic Honors Society and as a National Hispanic Scholar.

Following her four distinguished high school seasons, Del Calvo was heavily recruited to play for a number of Ivy League schools.

"I was recruited by Harvard and Yale [in addition to Princeton]," she said. "Princeton was my first choice and the only place I applied.

"To be honest [head coach Maureen Davies '97] was a really good recruiter. And all the people were very nice. That was the difference for me."

Del Calvo describes her first season at Princeton last spring as, "a little shaky," and her stats back up that assessment to some extent. In 73 at-bats, the freshman infielder registered only 17 hits and drove in only eight runs. This while playing in 36 games, 26 of those in the starting lineup.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

"Personally, this year's looking better," Del Calvo said.

"And the team is about ten times better than last year."

It is in her role as a member of the team, rather than as an individual player, that Del Calvo's comments are most illuminating. While she is somewhat reticent talking about her personal goals for the season and her role as a potential leader, she is very specific in what she wants for the team.

"I want an Ivy League title," Del Calvo said.

"I just want to do my job [on an individual level]. Be the leader I can be, even as a sophomore.

Del Calvo says her goal is, "just to do my best. Play to my potential. Take care of what i have to take care of."

If possible, she thinks that the Tigers as a unit have even more room to grow than she does after last year.

"We have so much potential as a team."

The Tigers showed some of that potential last night when they swept Rutgers in two games to open their home season.

From this point through to the end of the season, the anchor of Princeton's infield will be a player that grew up in Florida playing baseball with her brothers.

After a tough swing through some of the better national competition in the southern and midwestern states - playing teams like Georgia Tech and Florida State — the Tigers look to be in strong shape for the remainder of the season.

Del Calvo did not play in the team's double-header against Rutgers, but she did play on the team's swing through the South and Midwest.

At the Kansas Invitational in mid-March, Del Calvo was named to the all-tournament team, going four for eight in four games. Senior pitcher Brie Galicinao was also named to the team. Princeton split their games at the Invitational, finishing 2-2.

Maybe the road from the tee ball field to the Ivy League title isn't so long after all.