When Leigh Ross started her career at Syracuse, the head coach looked for local talent to build her program.

At the time, Morgan Nandin was playing shortstop for Cicero-North Syracuse High School, and caught Ross’ eye.

“She was one of the first players that I recruited when I came here,” Ross said. “When I saw her play in high school as a sophomore, I knew that she was the type of kid that we wanted on our team.”

Six years later, Ross hasn’t regretted her decision to bring the Syracuse-area native on board.

Nandin, now a senior, is in her fourth season as a starting shortstop for the Orange. As a freshman in 2010, she was one of four players who started in all of the team’s 58 games. As a junior, she tied a school record by starting in all 59. Going into her final season as a collegiate softball player, it’s her durability and field awareness that has made her a cornerstone of the program and a key component to its success.

“I grew up in a baseball family and was born with a baseball in my hand,” Nandin said. “It’s pretty much all I know, I don’t really know not playing this sport, and I like pretty much every aspect of it.”

Nandin can’t remember the first time she played softball because she was too young. She fell in love with the sport and has become a model of consistency for the Orange.

In her first three seasons with the Orange, she played in 175 games, a remarkable average of 58 games each spring. When asked if she ever thought about taking a game off, she smiled and shook her head.

“I don’t ever like taking days off,” Nandin said. “I just feel lazy.”

Ross remembers a game last year when the Orange had a sizable lead, and she decided to pull Nandin in the later innings. When she came off of the field, she was devastated. She had never sat in a game and wanted to get back in as soon as she came out.

“She plays with passion and finishes every single play, even in practice,” Ross said. “I like that, because it shows me that she has a love for the game and that she plays it the right way.”

Freshman Riley Johnson has been starting at second base for the Orange so far this season. Playing alongside Nandin in the infield, Johnson listens to everything Nandin says. Three years ago, Nandin was in the exact same position, starting as a freshman in a top-notch college softball program.

Johnson is already learning to trust Nandin’s instincts, as well as her talent in the field.

“When I have to make a play or am down, she is always telling me ‘This is what we’re going to do here and this is what we’re going to do there,’” Johnson said. “And her glove is fantastic, I’ve never seen a player that has had a glove like her.”

As one of the team’s three captains, Nandin is the on-field general who knows the game like the back of her hand. Though she’s a quiet and humble leader, her teammates have noticed her consistent play, and do their best to follow her lead.

When the time comes to replace Nandin, Syracuse will be faced with what seems like an impossible task.

“She is definitely going to be a huge loss next year,” Johnson said. “Someone is going to have big shoes to fill, but for now, she leads this team.”

Published on February 20, 2013 at 1:47 am

Contact Jesse: jcdoug01@syr.edu | @dougherty_jesse