Gateway softball captains passionate about sport, duties

By: Ray Fisher
Friday, April 12, 2019 | 6:55 PM

Their passion is softball.

They display it regularly at practice and on the field before, during and after games.

That’s just one of the reasons seniors Gionna DeLuca, Jordan Henderson and Mykaila Jackson were named captains of the Gateway softball team this season.

Another is they are talented athletes.

DeLuca, the Gators’ starting second baseman who missed her freshman season because of shoulder surgery, holds herself to high standard as one of the team captains.

“I am responsible for being a leader for the team on and off the field,” DeLuca said. “I’ve played three years of varsity softball. It is my duty to be vocal and lead by example, to be a player the other girls can look up to.”

DeLuca has a 3.9 GPA and is a member of National Honor Society. After high school, she will attend Pitt-Johnstown, where she has been accepted into the nursing program.

“As a student-athlete my whole life, academics has always come first to me,” DeLuca said. “Now as a senior, I’ve realized how much I love sports and how much I will miss high school sports as I move into another chapter of my life.”

Henderson, who plays third base, participates in the Interact Club at Gateway and owns a 3.8 GPA. Her future plans include attending IUP to study speech language pathology.

“Some of my duties (as captain) are making sure everyone is striving to be the best they can be, and to keep them up and positive when they’re feeling down,” Henderson said. “Making sure the girls are getting better with each day that passes so when we, as seniors, leave, we leave them with something to remember.

“And that when we come back to watch them play in the years to follow, they’re doing better than when we left.”

Jackson is a pitcher/first baseman for the Gators. She has a 4.08 GPA, and is involved in the Student Government Association and senior class council. She is preparing to attend CCAC for her general classes, then transfer to a university.

“As for my duties as a captain,” Jackson said, “I believe it’s important to keep the team’s morale positive while we are playing. I have confidence that we will come back even stronger for the second half of this season.”

DeLuca offered a bit of advice to future Gateway softball players.

“If I had one piece of advice to give,” she said, “I would tell people to enjoy it while it lasts, give 100 percent on and off the field, and be thankful every day for your ability to play the game you love.”

Tags: Gateway