Bella Crimaldi’s Journey from JUCO to Division I

Four years after starting her collegiate career at Rock Valley College, a Division III school in Rockford, Ill., fourth-year infielder Bella Crimaldi became a staple of Loyola’s program.

Crimaldi initially started playing softball after being inspired by her older sister, Rachel. She said growing up while watching her sister play fueled her love for the sport even more. 

She tried out for travel softball at 9 years old, and continued playing travel ball for Northern ICE Fastpitch in Wauconda, Ill through high school. 

After graduating from high school, Crimaldi committed to Rock Valley where she said she was able to grow the most personally and in softball. She said her time there made her into the player she is today.

Crimaldi’s performance at Rock Valley, especially as an integral member of 2022 NJCAA DIII Softball Championship team, was one of Loyola head coach Alicia Abbott’s main reasons for enticing Crimaldi to Rogers Park.

In that season, Crimaldi ranked sixth in hits with 54 and eighth in batting average with a .391. Crimaldi also added seven home runs, three triples and 11 doubles throughout the championship season, tabbing her for a NJCAA Region Four Second Team All-Conference award.

In the 2022-2023 season, the Golden Eagles transferred to NJCAA Division II and Crimaldi turned in another imposing season with a .380 batting average, 62 hits, 14 doubles, a triple and a team-high eight home runs. 

Rock Valley qualified again for the national tournament, with Crimaldi repeating on the NJCAA Region Four All-Conference Second Team with a fourth-best 47 RBIs and third-best 21 steals

Despite the change in division, Abbott said Crimaldi’s work ethic and grit were unwavering with her constant intensity.

“She wants to be a great teammate, wants to be supportive of the people around her and wants to do whatever it takes to get the job done,” Abbott said.  

After two years at the JUCO level, Crimaldi said she knew she was ready to make the move to Division I after speaking with Abbott, knowing she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to play in Rogers Park. 

Crimaldi said the things which stood out to her at Loyola were the coaching staff and the campus but she was most impressed by the team atmosphere her future teammates showed her. 

“All of the girls were extremely welcoming,” Crimaldi said. “I would like to say that we all pretty much have the same humor so we all really get along well which is really cool to say because I feel like not every team can say that.”

In her first season for the Ramblers last year, Crimaldi started eight games and made an appearance in 27, finishing the season with a .185 batting average. She scored one run with five hits and four RBIs. 

This season, Crimaldi took a major leap, hitting .297 so far with 12 runs, 33 hits and 10 RBI in 39 games played.

Crimaldi said her offensive production leap is because of the work she put in throughout the summer off-season — due in part to the motivation to prove herself this year after not playing as much last season.

“I think for me, just coming in like having that determined mentality and just knowing myself as a player and wanting to be the best that I could especially for my last season, I really just wanted to go all out,” Crimaldi said.

Even with the late arrival, Crimaldi has been a competitor from the very beginning. Fellow infielder and second-year Skyler Croker arrived in Rogers Park during the same summer as Crimaldi, and she said she knew her and Crimaldi would get along right away. 

“My first impressions of her on the field was that she was a competitor and that she was pretty tough and that’s stood to be true,” Croker said.

Crimaldi has been nothing but determined to grow and succeed in her career, especially in the face of tough games, according to Croker. 

While the Ramblers currently sit with a 12-29 overall record and 7-10 in conference play, Croker said Crimaldi has encouraged the team to keep pushing through each game. 

“Something that she always tells us, win or lose, is that we should go out there acting like we’re the best players on the field,” Croker said. “No matter if we feel unconfident that day or if just maybe we’re lacking confidence — to just go out and fake it till you make it no matter what because it truly does help.” 

Her mantra comes from her time at Rock Valley, where she said playing JUCO allowed her to gain mental toughness and feel more comfortable in a role where she’s looked to as a positive person who motivates and encourages her teammates.

Crimaldi said she hopes to show the girls to never give up and to go all out for every play and every at-bat. She uses her positive personality to guide her teammates through the “ups and downs of college softball” and life as a student-athlete. 

On the field, Crimaldi and Croker typically work together on third and first, respectively. Croker said she loves being on the field with Crimaldi and seeing her in the infield, giving her reassurance with a loud voice and strong presence. 

Even if a play doesn’t go her way, Croker said Crimaldi is always quick to bounce back.

“She knows ‘Okay next ball,’ that she’s going to get it,” Croker said. “She’s going to get the job done. And so that’s also really contagious, spreading to everyone else on the field and super helpful.”

As an underclassman, Croker said her main takeaway from time spent with Crimaldi will be her “next rep mentality” both in practice and during games. 

Croker said while Crimaldi’s last season is coming to a close — meaning she’ll lose her daily throwing partner — the whole team will miss Crimaldi’s high energy and big personality for years to come.

For Crimaldi, her goals are to have fun and stay consistent for her team, and she hopes the remainder of the season allows her to go out with a bang.