KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
SAN BENITO—Senior AJ Jasso secured her college future, by signing her letter of intent to play softball at Temple College. Jasso signed her name on the dotted line Tuesday afternoon in the San Benito gym.
Softball has always been a part of Jasso’s life and something that she held close to her heart was being around the San Benito softball program as she watched her older sister Amber Jasso guide the Lady ’Hounds to the state tournament in 2013.
“This day means so much to me,” Jasso said. “My parents always believed in me, they always knew I could play at the college level, but time went on and I got to my senior year and time became an issue. I knew I was going to sign somewhere it was just a matter of (where).”
Jasso becomes the second Valley athlete to join the Leopards after Weslaco senior catcher Audrey Escamilla signed her LOI to play softball at Temple on Monday.
“I’m excited to play for coach Kristen Zaleski and I’m excited to play at Temple,” Jasso said. “This day will have a lot of meaning to me as I go forward and when I look back I will always remember this day. Coach Z and I have a good connection. As soon as I met her I knew I was going to fit in and when I met the team it really felt like family.”
Jasso has provided the Lady ’Hounds with a quick bat and the ability to play different positions on the field. Jasso, who began her high school career in right field, made the transition this past year to play the middle infield.
“Once I get there, I know there will be girls better than me and some of them, we will be at the same level, but either way I know I have to work for my spot and earn it.”
Despite Jasso securing her future, there is still pressure and expectation to represent now Temple, herself and San Benito.
“I still think there is pressure, I have to represent myself and this is just the beginning and everything will be just as hard,” Jasso said. “But I’m ready and I’m ready to fill in where ever coach needs me once I get up there.”
Lady ’Hounds coach Denise Lira was excited to see Jasso take her talents to the college level and praised Jasso’s work ethic.
“AJ works extremely hard, whether that is in the offseason or during the season,” Lira said. “I can’t tell you how much I see her working after school and over the weekends with her dad. They are always working and trying to get better. She just has that competitive nature in her and she has a great mindset and is a great person to have on our team.”