During her career at Bloomfield College junior Bianka Cosme has been a quiet leader, but has also been an athlete who plays with supreme intensity and focus. In fact, Cosme is so focused on her team’s success and on her performance, that her 100th career hit milestone snuck up on her without much fanfare. Cosme’s reached that milestone yesterday with an infield single in game 2 against Caldwell College.
“The only thing Bianka cares about is winning,” said Head Coach Rocco Constantino. “She never gets distracted by off the field concerns and never complains about a thing. She’s as determined and focused as any athlete I have coached in any sport on any level. We’re lucky to have her in our program.”
After an illustrious career at Belleville High School, Cosme joined the Deacons and started immediately from day 1. As a freshmen, she found her way at the plate after a rough start and ended up with many key hits for the Deacons throughout the season. She delivered late inning, game winning hits against Concordia, USP and Felician as a freshman and finished the campaign with 23 hits, 9 of which went for extra bases.
It was during her sophomore season that Cosme enjoyed a breakout performance and became one of the top 2nd basemen in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. Batting in the top or middle of a potent lineup, Cosme batted .312 in recording 44 hits as a key player on a Deacon squad that went 33-15 and finished 3rd in the CACC. Cosme increased her numbers in just about every offensive category. She scored 26 runs, had a .397 slugging percentage and drew 14 walks.
Now a junior, Cosme is a veteran leader on a team in transition and has been a steady force throughout a tough season for the Deacons. After an opening day injury to senior shortstop and leadoff hitter Kira Wagar, Cosme assumed both roles and has continued to thrive and rise to the challenge.
“I believe that Bianka has been our MVP this season. She worked so hard to become a great second baseman, but then had to move over to short without notice after the injury and she didn’t miss a beat,” said Constantino. “She’s as tough as they come and I’m looking forward to next year when she can be a mentor to a lot of the young players we have coming in.”
Cosme is currently batting .302, but has had her average up around .350 for most of the season. Again, Cosme has been a clutch performer for the Deacons. Among her biggest hits this season was a 2 run single with two outs and two strikes in the bottom of the 7th to tie a game against Post University. The Deacons would go on to win that game in extra innings.
Cosme’s power numbers also improved this season as she leads BC in doubles and is second on the team in RBI despite batting in the leadoff spot most of the season. Cosme even added her first career homer to her resume this season.
With Cosme reaching the 100 hit plateau, that gives the Deacons 4 current players who have reached the milestone. Last year as juniors, Nicole Cagnino and Brianne Moore each recorded their 100th hit and earlier this season, senior Brittany DeVries joined the club.
With one year left in her career at Bloomfield College, Cosme figures her accomplishments and statistics to continue to trend upward. That is the direct result of her focus, determination and hard work.