A little help from a friend
SLIPPERY ROCK — Jenna Geibel expected it to be tougher.
This was Division II college softball, after all. The pitchers were better, the fastballs faster, the drop balls there and then — whoosh — gone.
But Geibel, a Slippery Rock University freshman and Butler High graduate, made a remarkable debut — even if she doesn't realize it.
"I figured I would struggle a little bit," Geibel said. "I didn't."
No, she certainly did not.
Geibel started her collegiate career with eight straight hits. Three games into the season, she was batting 1.000.
"I did?" Geibel said, reacting to the news. "I didn't know."
While there have been some rough patches in her first season, Geibel still is hitting .433 with six home runs and 17 RBI for The Rock while playing a solid third base.
After her hot start, Geibel was moved up to the No. 4 spot in the order.
She's comfortable there. Geibel hit fourth for most of her career at Butler.
Another reason Geibel is feeling comfortable is Knoch graduate and SRU sophomore shortstop Kirsten Brant.
Brant went through many of the same growing pains as a freshman starter last season for The Rock.
Brant and Geibel have been friends since high school and Brant has become a quasi big sister to Geibel this season.
"She's doing really well," Brant said. "I don't know how much help she needs. I just try to keep her positive. It is a lot of fun playing with her."
Brant and Geibel played together on a summer travel softball team. When Geibel was recruited by SRU, she was moved to third base.
Geibel played third and Brant shortstop on their travel team, too.
When Brant found out Geibel was coming to The Rock, she said she was excited.
"I knew how good a player she was," Brant said. "At bat, in the field, she's been awesome."Brant has had an up-and-down season.She got off to torrid start on the spring trip to Florida, but fell into a slump before breaking out of it earlier this week with a two-homer game against Gannon.Her second home run was a walk-off, two-run shot in the bottom of the seventh inning.It was her first game-winning home run since her days at Knoch.And it was a relief."It was like, 'Finally!'" Brant said. "I hadn't gotten a hit in a long time. It was finally nice to help the team again."Brant, though, hasn't been much of a slouch at the plate or in the field.She is batting .355 with two homers and nine RBI.Last year, Brant hit .294 with seven home runs and 29 RBI for SRU."I feel a lot more comfortable this year," Brant said. "Being a freshman last year, it was a lot harder than it looked. The second time around, it's been a lot easier."Brant said she has assumed more of a leadership role this season, especially with her fellow Butler County teammate Geibel.Brant has been where Geibel is now."She just tells me to relax," Geibel said. "She tells me that everything is going to be all right."
