It's the last thing you want to hear as a pitcher, "Tommy John surgery." Those three words, and the procedure that accompanies them, have derailed many careers through the years. Danielle Circosta wasn't going to let that happen to her.
The sophomore pitcher for the University of Saint Joseph's (Conn.) missed her entire freshman season after undergoing 'Tommy John' surgery but has bounced back to help guide the Blue Jays into the GNAC tournament.
"It's been really hard. It's been difficult because of going through the therapy," Circosta said. "I have to pretty much relearn everything and I have to work a little bit harder to get the strength back."
Circosta has stood up to that challenge and then some, pitching 79.1 innings and posting a 1.94 ERA. Her performance even earned the GNAC Pitcher of the Week award in April. From April 7-13th, she went 3-0 with a save and struck out 20 batters, while allowing only nine hits.
"That meant a lot to me," Circosta said. "It showed me that all the hard work has paid off. And people are seeing that I've gotten better. It was a good feeling. It showed me that coming back from injury is possible."
The road back was not an easy one for the Feeding Hills, Mass. native, who often doubted she would be able to quickly return to form.
"I expected to struggle and not be where I am," Circosta said. "I didn't think I would be playing as much or even be where I am right now."
Though she had missed time before in her career, she had never been forced to sit out an entire season.
"Going to the games and practices and not being able to throw a ball and having to watch and being on the sidelines, it was hard," Circosta said.
Despite the struggle, the year off provided Circosta with a lot of insight into the college game and the way the Blue Jays program operates.
"I got to watch and look at the dynamic of the team and learn how the coach runs things, and learn all of the different plays," Circosta said. "I got to sit and learn what pitches to throw when and other parts of the game."
As this season approached, Circosta and her doctors were not sure if she would be ready for the team's first game but one of her first throwing sessions changed all that. She had more speed and movement on her pitches than she expected and knew she was back.
"It was a relief because I was really nervous," Circosta said. "I could start throwing. I was really excited. I can do this. I just really wanted play. I was so excited."
When it came time to take the mound again for the first time, Circosta was understandably jittery.
"It was my first time back in a game with actual batters. I was nervous I was going to mess up a pitch and not be as good as I was or could be," Circosta said.
She quickly calmed down though, with the help of her teammates and her faith in their abilities to support her.
"My arm was feeling really good," Circosta said. "I knew I had the team behind me. I just had a lot more confidence in what I was throwing with the support of the captains and everybody else."
Once she was back toeing the rubber, Circosta got the familiar feeling of control that can only come from pitching.
"It's kind of like a rush. It's very calming to me. People get nervous but I am calm and relaxed," Circosta said. "I was trained when I was younger to ignore everything going on around me and rely on the team around you."
With Circosta back in the game, St. Joseph went 17-5, including an 11 game win-streak and finished fourth in the conference. They will take on Simmons in the first round of the conference tournament on Friday.
"My goals for the team are to stay strong and start off this tournament hitting well and playing the way we can play," Circosta said. "My goal is to come out strong and throw the way I know I can throw and pitch with everything I have for the team."
*Written by GNAC Communications Specialist, Eddie Lockhart