Homeschooled Lindsey Cocks makes difference playing for Plano, her dad's alma mater. ‘She loves being a Reaper.'

Chicago Tribune

02-04-2025

Players want to play, and make no mistake, Plano's Lindsey Cocks is a player.
It's one reason why the senior shortstop/third baseman and two-time all-state selection was disappointed Tuesday when her team's nonconference home date with Princeton was postponed.
She's on a roll, hitting at .579 only six games into the season. And like any player on a hot streak, Cocks wants to keep it going rather than taking swings in the batting cage in the school's gym.
But there's also the fact that her dad, D.J., would have had a rare opportunity to watch his daughter — who's in her fourth varsity season — actually play in person.
'It is disappointing,' Lindsey said. 'It's a bummer. He's home today and could have come out for this game.'
D.J. teaches at Westmont, where he also coaches the baseball team. His Sentinels had an off day during their spring break, freeing him up.
'It's always good to see him in the crowd,' Plano coach Dwayne Love said. 'He's one of our biggest backers out there. Whether he's doing it from the stands or afar, we know he's out there.'
Always.
D.J. Cocks, a Plano native, played for retired coach Jim Schmidt and his former assistant, Love.
D.J. coached four years at Newark and four years at his alma mater before going to Westmont in 2011. He started this season with a career record of 388-294 and needs nine wins to reach 400.
He will review his Lindsey's games with her when he gets home and has been known to even check in with his wife, Nicole, by call or text from his game to ask, 'How's she doin'?'
More often than not, Lindsey, a Judson recruit, is doing quite well. She hit .385 as a freshman and followed that up with seasons of .471 and .519.
'It's crazy,' Lindsey said of playing for the same coach her dad had. 'It's cool, though, seeing how my dad turned out. I know that (Love) is one of the best, and he's always been there for me.'
Lindsey, her 16-year-old brother and two younger siblings are all homeschooled.
Lindsey has taken two classes at the high school each year to be eligible to play for the Reapers. She has also played travel ball with the Yorkville Lady Reds since she was 8.
'I didn't know anybody coming in here my freshman year, and taking those classes with a few of my teammates really helped me,' Lindsey said. 'I've been blessed. The girls have all been nice, friendly and welcoming.'
She remembers her first experience playing softball.
'My dad took me back into our backyard, set up the net and said 'I want you to start swinging,'' Linsdey said.
She's been hitting rocket shots ever since, including Wiffle balls over the 107 sign her mom made for an outfield fence post on dad's makeshift field.
'Yeah, she came home (Tuesday) and was teeing the ball up for her little brother,' D.J. said. 'It's tough that I'm coaching, too, and can't see her high school games, but with GameChanger, I can watch them and I see all her travel games.
'I'm proud of the fact she loves being a Reaper and loves coach Love and would run through a wall for him.'
Lindsey Cocks shares shortstop and third base with fellow senior Taylor Downs, who's hitting .381 and leads Plano (3-3) with seven RBIs from the leadoff spot.
Cocks had three hits with a homer, double and three RBIs Monday in a 16-15 eight-inning win at Mendota. She stole four bases to give her a program career-record 63.
Pitching struggles have helped limit Plano to four and six wins the last two seasons respectively, but Cocks and Love thinks this team will improve on those marks.
'When I get on base my philosophy is, 'Just go. You're faster than the catcher. You can get there,'' Cocks said. 'I feel like this year we have our best team chemistry.
'We don't have to be individuals. We need to come together and do it together.'