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Ex-Countryside Softball Star Excels At UCLA

Don Liebig/ASUCLA Photography

Former Countryside High standout GiOnna DiSalvatore made an immediate impact upon the UCLA softball program as a freshman this past season, helping lead the Bruins back to the Women's College World Series after a year's absence.

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: June 20, 2008

COUNTRYSIDE -- For an 18-year old incoming freshman, GiOnna DiSalvatore arrived in Westwood, Calif., with an already sparkling résumé of accomplishments that illustrated just why she had been recruited by the premier softball program in all the land.

To say that DiSalvatore, 19, who will soon enter her sophomore year at UCLA, merely added to that list of accolades during her first year donning the True Blue and Gold would be quite the understatement.

How is that?

For starters, the All-Everything, ex-Countryside High standout became the first freshman softball player at UCLA to earn first-team All-American honors since 2001. The last was Natasha Wately, a Bruins assistant coach and current Team USA member.

DiSalvatore also racked up a first-team All-Region award, was named co-Freshman of the Year within the UCLA softball program and became the 2007-08 Freshman of the Year encompassing all of UCLA athletics.

She started all 60 games during UCLA's 51-9 Women's College World Series run, finished tied for sixth in the Pac-10 Conference in batting average (.362), led the Bruins in game-winning RBI's (11), multihit games (20) and overall hits (68), and finished second on the team in RBI's (45) behind Amanda Kamekona's 46.

She did accomplish these aforementioned feats while switching defensively from middle infield to first base.

Quick Transition

While DiSalvatore had to shake off some of the typical first-year nerves, the transition from Countryside Cougar to UCLA Bruin came naturally once on the field.

"At first I was nervous, but as the year went on I became more experienced and it was just a really good feeling to represent UCLA and to wear that uniform," she said DiSalvatore committed to UCLA the summer after her sophomore year in high school to become the earliest commit in Bruins' softball history.

In her first go-around as a collegiate ballplayer, she grabbed Pac-10 Player of the Week honors by hitting .625 with a home run and nine RBI. Two weeks later she would repeat the feat to begin solidifying herself as a bonafide offensive threat in the UCLA lineup.

One of those taking immediate notice of DiSalvatore's quick start was UCLA head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez.

"She played as a veteran in her freshman year," Inouye-Perez said. "She sat in the 3 or 4 spot in our lineup the entire year and had more game-winning RBI's than any other player on the team."

DiSalvatore's willingness and flexibility to move from the middle of the infield to first base impressed her coach as well.

"The best part about GiOnna DiSalvatore is that she's the epitome of a team player and she's willing to do whatever it takes to help this team," Inouye-Perez said. "She was my strongest, most valuable player in that I could put her at any position at any time and I knew she could get it done."

DiSalvatore said playing everyday at first was awkward to start, but is now a position she has grown to like.

That said, it is certainly not to say the desire to shift back has faded.

"Every position isn't set every year even though you're returning," she said. "My plan is to get in better shape and become quicker so I can compete. If not, where ever coach puts me, I'll play."

Road to Oklahoma City and beyond

While stats and honors proved she could compete and thrive at this level, the opportunity to play at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, in Oklahoma City during the Women's College World Series had DiSalvatore taking a step back.

"It was incredible," she said. "It's every college softball player's dream to go to the World Series. Just stepping on that field and knowing all those people in the stands were watching you – that gives me the chills just thinking about it."

DiSalvatore was able to have her father, Joseph, and high school coach Kaylyn Bayly in attendance to bring a little bit of home to the grand Midwestern stage.

The tournament didn't quite go how DiSalvatore and the Bruins would have hoped. They were eliminated after three games by Florida, but the experience offers a taste of what to strive for in the future.

DiSalvatore said she is ready to continue her development and begin prepping for next year. In addition to working on speed and quickness, consistency at the plate is a key area of off-season focus for the versatile Bruin.

"I was consistent this year, but I'd like to have been more consistent in the post season," said DiSalvatore, who is planning on majoring in pre-med.

"I believe the future for her is going to be a bright one," Inouye-Perez said. "She's the full package. She's not just a one dimensional player, she's valuable."

While DiSalvatore is at home with her family, it will be back to the athletic and academic grind come the end of July, for summer quarter and workouts. Before thatshe will play in a couple of tournaments .

When asked how life in Southern California is going, DiSalvatore replied: "It's definitely different living on my own so far away. It didn't really faze me that much though, I like being away.

"But I love Florida too. It's nice being home."

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