Leominster's Cordio Savors Second Chance
May 6, 2010
By Ross Edwards, Sentinel Sports Editor
At a time when most players her age were just beginning their collegiate softball careers, it looked as though Erica Cordio's days on the diamond were over.
Cordio's stellar production as a member of the Leominster High School team translated into a scholarship to play for the University of Rhode Island. Before the end of her first semester in 2008, however, what had been a nagging injury turned into a severe setback as Cordio tore the ligaments in her left wrist.
Suddenly, her future at the school had vanished.
"My doctor said I probably never would play softball ever again," Cordio said. "I told him, 'No, I'm going to play.'"
Two rods were temporarily placed in Cordio's wrist during surgery. One stabilizing screw is a permanent fixture, and she is forced to wear a movement-restricting brace during athletic activity.
Even with the surgery, Cordio faced slim odds of ever setting foot in a batter's box again.
"He actually told me (the news) right as I was recovering from surgery," she said. "I was sort of in and out of it. He didn't want to tell me while I was fully awake because I probably would have flipped out.
"Without the benefit of a softball scholarship, Cordio transferred to Worcester State College last spring. Unsure if she'd ever play again and still facing a long road to recovery, she didn't approach Lancer coach Jennifer Kapenas about joining the team.Instead, Kapenas, a North Middlesex Regional graduate who keeps a keen eye on the talent pool in North Central Mass., caught wind of Cordio's arrival through word of mouth.
"Anybody who follows any sort of softball knows Leominster High. ... Someone said, 'Do you know Erica Cordio is on campus?" the second-year coach said. "I said, 'No, I wonder if she wants to play softball?'"
After a nearly year away from the game, Cordio's injured wrist had improved considerably. Lancer outfielder Ashley Howe knew Cordio as a rival from her days on the Gardner High School team, and encouraged her fellow sophomore to give softball another chance.
The results have been tremendous. "It felt like I never lost it," Cordio said.
The 5-foot-8 shortstop enters today's MASCAC tournament semifinal game against Salem State leading her team in batting average (.440), runs (26), slugging percentage (.672) and steals (7). Her 51 hits from the leadoff spot are 15 more than any of her teammates.
"She has a great work ethic. And when you see her on the field, she's impressive," Kapenas said. "She has definitely helped our team tremendously.
"We've made the playoffs for the first time since 2004. She's not the only reason, but she's a big reason."
The statistics are even more astounding considering Cordio's reduced range of motion forced her to completely reinvent her swing and philosophy at the plate.
"My hitting has changed a lot," she said. "My whole hitting career I've always been a pull hitter. And now that I'm wearing this brace, I don't really pull because now I go with the ball. I push it."
In addition to the change of scenery, Cordio also switched majors. She had planned on becoming a teacher, but recently decided to focus on communication disorders. After graduation, she hopes to work with children to improve their speech and self-confidence.
In the meantime, Cordio is happy to be back on the field and savoring success with her teammates as the playoffs get under way. The Lancers finished the regular season with a 19-15 overall record and were 9-5 in league play.
"We're definitely pumped because (the program) hadn't been very good for a while and a lot of teams, I think, looked down at us," Cordio said. "And I think we sort of proved ourselves this year. The program is definitely coming along. ... We always stayed together. We're strong."
With a roster of only one senior and two juniors, Kapenas said Cordio figures prominently into what should be a bright future for the Worcester State program.
"She's definitely a leader," the coach said. "She has a lot of great softball sense and knowledge. ... You can't teach certain things about a sport, whatever it is -- football, baseball, softball. I call it the 'it factor.' And she definitely has it."
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