To know your role on a 16-person roster is a must, and no one has found theirs this softball season quite like Gabi Comia.
A second leadoff refers to the nine-hole hitter who often provides the “spark plug” for the top of the order behind her. The St. John, Indiana, native has done just that, capitalizing on her coach’s trust in her and seeing her own confidence soar.
“I know that regardless of the situation, they have trust in me, and I can't accomplish all these numbers and all these stats and everything that comes along without them behind me,” Comia said.
The second baseman has embraced that trust and excelled at the plate. After tallying 20 hits as a freshman, she has more than doubled that total, recording 45 hits as of April 2.
Long before she stepped on the diamond, Comia’s love for the sport started in the stands. Growing up, she watched her older brother Jared play like any younger sibling would.
“I was always just that little sibling that kind of ran around at their games, chasing the foul balls, thinking, ‘Maybe I should try this,’” Comia said. “And then I started realizing that I was a little bit better than the competition around.”
Watching her brother play inspired her to try it out herself. She began playing rec ball and never looked back.
Her brother continued his academic and athletic career at the University of Illinois, along with her cousin Branden Comia.
Once Comia realized she had outgrown the local rec ball competition, she set her sights on travel softball. But the transition came with sacrifices, requiring her to travel more than an hour from her hometown just to attend practices.
Travel ball led Comia to join the Beverly Bandits, a Chicago-based travel organization. She began playing for the Bandits at just 8 years old and remained with the program through her graduation from Hanover Central High School.
Jared became a major influence on her development, as they would constantly hit in the cages with their father. Often, Jared helped his younger sister with swing adjustments, and that led Comia to take after her older brother.
“I was always really looking up to him and trying to almost mimic him," Comia said. “He's a baseball player, but he was so good growing up, and he was someone that I really looked up to.”
That knowledge led her to become the No. 3-ranked player in 2024, according to MaxPreps. At Hanover Central, she held a .627 career batting average while tallying 72 RBIs, 10 home runs and 27 doubles. But what stood out the most from Comia was her positive attitude.
Comia’s energy and attitude served as a catalyst for the player she has become. After starting 21 games in her freshman year, she became an everyday starter in 2026 at second base.
Head coach Tim Walton complimented the way the second baseman acts even when she is struggling. For example, Comia was hitless in the series victory over Tennessee, but that didn’t affect her style of play, he said.
“I mean, everybody's heard the only two things you can control are your attitude and your effort. And Gabi has that attitude and aura about her,” Walton said. “She did a really good job of finding a way to turn the page. You really wouldn't have known that she didn't get a ton of on-base opportunities this weekend.”
Her defensive success has not gone unnoticed. After the Tennessee series victory, the second baseman, along with her counterpart, shortstop Kenleigh Cahalan, was awarded the Defenders of the Week by Softball America. The duo combined for 13 assists and a pair of double plays.
Comia’s teammates have picked up on her positive energy as well. First baseman Madison Walker is always right beside her in the field, giving her a firsthand look at it all.
The “freakishly athletic” second baseman is always trying to get better, Walker said, and she deserves all the success the year has brought her. Just this week, she saw Comia practicing hard behind-the-back flips, she added.
“I was like, I don't know who can do this, but Gabi Comia can,” Walker said.
Contact Zach Moore at zmoore@alligator.org. Follow him on X @zach_moore27.
Zach is a sophomore sports journalism student in his first semester at The Alligator, covering softball. He also has experience as an intern in the Florida Collegiate Summer League. Zach enjoys watching sports in his free time, primarily the Minnesota Vikings, Orlando Magic, and Arsenal FC.
