« Softball 2019

Laurie Derrico

School
Wichita State University
Position
Infield
Major
Exercise Science

Classroom

Laurie Derrico carries a 3.816 GPA as an exercise science major at Wichita State. Derrico was a member of the 2017-18 American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team. She was a recipient of the Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award in 2016-17 while also being named to the MVC Honor Roll twice. She has also been named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll every semester at Wichita State.

Character

According to Head Coach Kristi Bredbenner, during her eight years at Wichita State and in 18 years of coaching she’s never had a player work as hard as Derrico. Derrico is the first one at practice and the last one to leave. She does all of the little things that go unnoticed, picks up and puts away equipment, helps with recruits, has fantastic grades and is someone on the team whom everyone can rely on.

She has been awarded the Shocker Softball Standard of Excellence award by her peers that last two years. The Standard of Excellence awards is given to the athlete that holds themselves to the highest accountability in every aspect of life and works the hardest and holds themselves to the highest standards in the classroom, in the weight room, in the batting cages, on the practice field and in games. 

Derrico is trustworthy, a strong leader by example and someone who has always put the team first. As soon as she moved to Wichita her teammates recognized her for her strong leadership, choosing her to be on the Shocker Softball leadership council. She has continued to represent the team in that same capacity four years straight.

Derrico is selfless and a true team player. Anything that has been asked of her on the field she has done knowing that it is best for the team. Her personality allows her to command the infield with the respect of her teammates and opponents.

Community

Derrico has been a key figure in the community during her time at Wichita State. She has dedicated her free time to various community service events including the following: Hunger Games (collected non-perishable items and donated them to the Shocker Locker, which is a food pantry on campus); Buddy Walk (provided food to families affected with Down syndrome); Pen Pals with Maize South; Dress for Success; Wichita Fire and Police Shocks; Cops and Kids (activities and workshops with local youth); Wichita State Baseball Screamage (handed out candy before the annual fall scrimmage and played games with children in attendance); Open Doors Food Ministry (packed Thanksgiving food boxes for people in need); WSU Softball Cleat Crew (assisted young girls at softball camp); Wesley Children’s Hospital and a Night with Santa (arts and crafts with children during holiday season).

Competition

Derrico returns for her final season at Wichita State as the program’s active leader in batting average (.302), slugging percentage (.584), hits (135), home runs (32), doubles (28), runs scored (92) and RBI’s (111). Derrico needs only eight home runs and 25 RBI’s to become the school’s all-time home run and RBI leader. As a junior, Derrico led the team in home runs with 11 and ranked second in RBIs with 36. Her 11 home runs were the second-most in the American Athletic Conference. She earned first-team American Athletic Conference All-Conference honors as a junior and second-team Missouri Valley Conference All-Conference honors as a sophomore. Derrico has started 148 of the 150 games she’s appeared in as a Shocker during her first three seasons. She has essentially been the program’s starting shortstop since she arrived on campus.

*All stats as of nomination time.