Despite the West Oso High softball team’s unsuccessful 2019 season, the Lady Bears eye a better 2020 campaign buoyed by the return of soon-to-be senior Desirhay Garcia.
Head coach Roxanne Curiel, who just concluded her first season at the Corpus Christi school, is high on Garcia. On the verge of lettering for the fourth year, Garcia, according to Curiel, has been “one of the most consistent hitters this program has seen in a while.”
“This year alone, I know she led us in batting average (.423) and she led in singles and in doubles,” Curiel told Texas Scorecard. “Almost every offensive category we had she led.”
She added that Garcia proved to be a star on defense when she switched the junior from second base, her primary position, to the outfield.
“Defensively, I can tell you she’s definitely one of my most solid players,” said Curiel. “She’s very well-rounded, can read the ball very quickly, which helped just a lot when I moved her from second base to the outfield.”
Curiel mentioned that Garcia expressed a desire to play catcher before graduating.
“The one thing she wanted to do before coming out of high school is to be a catcher for one game,” she said.
The Lady Bears are fresh from a year in which they notched only two victories, but Curiel considers West Oso a “very up-and-coming” squad led by a “strong, physical” Garcia.
“Her actions on the field and in the box definitely help boost the team up,” the coach said.
Curiel stated that the Lady Bears are not where they should be, but “the rebuild is definitely there.”
Though Garcia landed on the 31-4A All-District Second Team, Curiel said the two-sport athlete (Garcia will also letter for the fourth year in tennis) was dissatisfied with the honor.
“She wasn’t happy with where she was placed so that definitely lit a fire under her and focused her for next season,” she said.
Away from the diamond, Garcia serves as a “mom figure” among her friends, which is almost similar to her leadership role in the program.
“She’s the ‘mom’ of the friend groups,” said Curiel.
