Central Michigan University Athletics
Christin Sobeck Profile
5/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 6, 2004
By Marlena E. Taylor
Sports Information Assistant
and
Don Helinski
Associate Sports Information Director
While most of Christin Sobeck's current Central Michigan University teammates were playing softball growing up, she preferred to play baseball with the boys.
In fact, the junior outfielder played softball for the first time her freshman year of high school.
"Before that I always played baseball," Sobeck said. "And most of the time it was with boys. I played both pitcher and shortstop. My teammates always accepted me but it was the guys that I pitched against who would be upset because I was a girl and could strike them out."
Sobeck, who goes by the nickname "Sobe," says she and her teammates made no attempts to hide the fact that she was a girl.
"My hair was flowing out of my hat and my shirt was always perfectly tucked in," she said. "We didn't make any attempt to hide it. It wasn't a big deal. Everybody was really cool with it."
One summer when she was in junior high, Christin had the opportunity to play in an all-female baseball league with a team out of Lansing.
"I played for the Lansing Stars and we played teams from all over the country," Sobeck said. "It was nice playing baseball with and against other females."
Christin currently patrols centerfield for the Chippewas and one of her assets as a player is her strong arm, something she credits to baseball.
"Baseball and softball use a lot of the same fundamentals," she said. "Playing baseball and pitching really helped by arm strength since I was throwing so much."
Sobeck also uses more of a baseball swing now with a full follow through which is unorthodox compared to the compact, contact-style swing that softball players typically use. But, it has worked for her as she is hitting a team-high .328 this season with 11 doubles, two triples, seven homers and 21 RBI.
Sobeck's seven home runs this season are one shy of the school's single season record set by Eli Barnes in 1999.  | |
She is one homer away from tying the CMU single season record and her 12 career roundtrippers rank sixth in Chippewa history.
"Home runs are not something that I really think about," she said. "I just try to make contact ... hard contact ... with the ball."
With all her success, Christin is quick to give some of her credit to her parents who have been there for her throughout the years, like driving her the 200 miles from Alpena to Lansing that one summer to play in the girls baseball league.
"My parents have helped me out and I really appreciate that and I try to let them know that all the time," she said. "I have great thanks for all they have done for me."
When she isn't on the softball field or in class, the education major enjoys hanging with her friends and shopping. She also makes sure to take time out for herself.
"Down time is precious to me," Sobeck said. "I make sure I plan some time to myself every single day."
