With a combined 412 games between them, seniors Nichole Ramirez and Chrissy Hildebrandt have helped turn the SF State Gators softball team from the conference doormat to the national power they are today, as the two infielders have transitioned from freshmen to cornerstones of the program.

“My first two years, we would get (run) over,” Hildebrandt said. “It was embarrassing to play, but you stick with it because you know you’re (going to) get better.”

Along with the familiar ping of aluminum bats, Gator games are also accompanied by a running chatter of cheers and song as the close-knit Gators constantly encourage each other.

“Our team is real close,” said Ramirez, who starts many of the cheers. “We watch movies and hang out together. It’s nice to have all these friends and people here. It’s like a family.”

While their on-the-field efforts have helped change the fortunes of Gator softball, their off-the-field contributions have been as important in changing the team’s culture and personality from losers to winners.
“They came in and they had the desire to win,” said head coach Kristi Lansford about Ramirez and Hildebrandt. “They had the drive that it takes to make it happen. They helped foster that environment.”

As seniors, Ramirez and Hildebrandt have become the “big sisters” of the team. Along with providing leadership, both players keep the atmosphere loose and fun, their teammates said.

“They’re like the bigger sisters you look to guide you or to crack a joke,” said pitcher Sonja Garnett. “They’re the goofiest people, and they make playing so much fun.”

In Ramirez’s case, she is not only a big sister figuratively, but literally to freshman Dana Ramirez.

“Nichole has always been very mature; she’s the most mature athlete I ever had the privilege to coach,” said Lansford, who also noted she has never had to yell at Ramirez once. “She’s always been a leader because of that.”

Ramirez demonstrated her leadership ability at a young age by sacrificing her pitching career in order to stay on the field and contribute to the team.

Ramirez, who was a pitcher since the age of five when her father Mark Ramirez first handed her a ball, came to SF State to pitch. However, an elbow injury forced her to make a tough decision; redshirt and miss a year, or give up pitching and move to first base.

“It was hard because my arm hurt so bad, and I wanted to play,” Ramirez said.

Her decision to give up pitching was a painful one, but one that gave her a new chance at success on the diamond. Ramirez has produced over the course of her career and will finish in the top 10 in school history in doubles and home runs.

“She made the transition very easily,” Lansford said.

The mere mention of Hildebrandt’s name brings a smile to the face of her coach and teammates.

“Chrissy is a lot like me,” Ramirez said. “She’s very competitive and a leader like me. But she’s also very goofy.”

Along with the general levity of her personality, the so called “Dancing Diva” also acts as the unofficial team choreographer.

“Our team loves to dance, and for some reason, they think I can dance,” Hildebrandt said. “So I have to teach them different dance moves.”

Two months ago, Hildebrandt, along with teammate Nicole Cirimele, started to attend dance classes in the Mission after practice.

“I started doing that because they started to steal all my dance moves, so I had to go get some new ones,” Hildebrandt said.

Along with bringing the dances “Harlem Shake” and “A-Town Stomp” to the team, Hildebrandt also brings a quick bat, which has put her in SF State’s career top 10 in hits, runs, doubles, home runs and runs batted in.

Not bad for someone who was a soccer player as a kid until her friends, Jessica and Alana Mendoza, convinced her to give softball a shot.

“My first time playing, I hit a home run and I was like, ‘Hey I like this sport,’” Hildebrandt said.

Needless to say, softball turned out to be a good choice for Hildebrandt, as her humor and spunk have helped the Gators deal with the pressure that accompanies the expectations of winning.

“I use humor to hide everything, and it’s always easier to be happy than to show emotions and I never show emotions,” Hildebrandt said. “I think my family gave me humor to make me stronger so that other people wouldn’t hurt me.”

Out of the seven freshmen in their class, only Hildebrandt and Ramirez have persevered to make it to Senior Day, even though a once-homesick Hildebrandt said she contemplated quitting as a freshman.

“I’ve broken two bones, and (Nicole) couldn’t pitch anymore,” Hildebrandt said. “Other people didn’t have the positive attitude we did.”

Luckily for her and the Gators, she stuck through it, and as a result, made friends and formed relationships.

“You meet people in class, you meet people everywhere, but these people know everything, and you can tell them your deepest, darkest secrets,” Hildebrandt said. “I’m sad to not be a part of it anymore.”

As they finished the last home game of their careers and prepared for their last playoff run, both Hildebrandt and Ramirez, and the rest of the team, have to get ready for a future without each other.

“It’s going to be a different atmosphere without them,” Lansford said. “There will never be another Chrissy Hildebrandt personality-wise (or another with) the leadership of Nic. They’ve been special.”