Two-sport student-athlete Christina Elsbury makes history

Gallaudet has had student-athletes who have played two sports, three sports, even four sports over the course of an academic year. That’s not unusual.

But two sports at the same time? That’s challenging – but doable with some schedule juggling – not just the sports themselves, but academic obligations as well. As recently as last fall, football team placekicker Jonathon Waterman also played soccer.

So what makes two-sport student-athlete Christina Elsbury unusual?

She plays women’s softball…and men’s baseball.

Elsbury, from Uniontown, Ohio, is in her third season with the Bison softball team, which begins its season this weekend with doubleheaders against Wilson College on Saturday and Notre Dame of Maryland University on Sunday. She played pitcher, second base, and outfield her first two seasons with the team, and will pitch and field in the infield this season. 

This year, Christina decided that she also wanted to play baseball. She made her debut on February 18 in the second game of a home doubleheader against Elmira College, pitching the top of the sixth inning. She faced eight batters and got one flyout and two groundouts. The Elmira College Soaring Eagles scored three runs in the frame on four hits and one walk, but history had been made as Elsbury became the first woman ever to play in a Gallaudet baseball game, and one of relatively few in NCAA history. According to the Baseball for All website, the first woman to play NCAA baseball was Susan Perabo, in 1987 at Webster University. In all, 25 women have played men’s baseball, most in NCAA Division III.

“It was an inspiring moment to see Christina take the mound and pitch in a game for Gallaudet. She is making the most of her opportunity. We are proud of Christina and her teammates for being part of history,” said Gallaudet baseball head coach Curtis Pride.

Christina has pitched in five baseball games to date. All this was before softball gets underway. With softball beginning this weekend, we look forward to seeing her excel in both sports!

Read about the historic Elmira game, and about Christina’s second appearance the next day against Cazenovia College. 

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