Christina Elsbury makes history as Gallaudet baseball pitcher
A Gallaudet student-athlete, Christina Elsbury, made history on February 18 when she became the first woman ever to play in a Gallaudet baseball game as a pitcher.
[Video clip] Credit: Gallaudet Athletics
An article on Gallaudet.edu explains that she pitched at the top of the sixth inning, facing eight batters. The opposing team got three runs but Elsbury got one flyout and two groundouts. She pitched the entire inning.
[Video clip] Credit: Gallaudet Athletics
Elsbury is from Uniontown, Ohio. There have been only 25 others who have played in NCAA men’s baseball games. Here are some comments from her on her experience as a pitcher and on playing two sports at the same time, baseball and softball.
Christina Elsbury: Pitching for the baseball team is incredible. I will always have that memory. I recently played a game against CNU. After I finished pitching, everyone applauded. The umpire asked me for an autograph because it was their first time officiating a game with a woman. They thought it was really cool. It is truly something special to represent Gallaudet and other women. I’m one of only six women in the U.S. who are currently playing. I play both softball and baseball. What helped me decide that is I really enjoy playing both sports. I can involve myself in men’s sports and women’s sports as well.
Alex: Elsbury said she has *three sisters and that the four always had a passion for the sport of softball.
Elsbury: Me and my younger sisters would always be together playing softball, practicing pitching and catching, learning how to hit, and everything possible. We always wanted to do something to do with softball. We had a passion for it.
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[Video clip] Credit: Gallaudet Athletics]
Alex: Elsbury said she is grateful to her support system for her success.
Elsbury: I think having good parents who have supported me, the teammates, the coaches, the athletic trainers, the Athletic Director Warren (Keller), who is supportive, have all really helped me with the decision to play both (sports). It really helped me to stay motivated to keep it up. I can’t wait to see what happens the rest of the season. I’m excited! Thank you.
Alex: Thank you, Christina Elsbury, for your time. It’s an amazing story.
The Gallaudet softball team has a 3-1 record and Elsbury was just named the United East Conference Softball Pitcher of the Week. I read that she is excelling both as a pitcher and as a hitter.
*Correction: Christina has four sisters, not three sisters.
https://gallaudetbison.com/news/2023/2/18/bb_23_recap_elmira.aspx
https://gallaudetbison.com/news/2023/3/6/uecsaow-march06.aspx