Jessica Rago '16 Recruiting Profile

When I was little, I loved watching softball. I would always ask my parents about the rules and what to do in different situations. At the age of six, I joined the local little league team. Once I started my first practice, I didn't want to stop. I kept anticipating the next practice; I couldn't wait to learn more about the game. It wasn't long before I was playing every day, whether it was with my team or with my parents in the backyard.

When I was eleven, a high school coach recommended I start playing travel ball. I started playing with other girls who loved to practice every day too. I challenged myself to be better than I was at the last practice, and I worked harder so I could play at the highest level possible. By the time I was fourteen, I had earned a spot on an eighteen-u team. I am sixteen now, and when I graduate next year, I don't want to stop playing the game I've dedicated the last ten years of my life to.

College softball is a whole new level I believe I'm prepared to play. I have worked hard physically and mentally so I can play at my best. I have read multiple books about how to be mentally tough in a game and train every day I can't be on the field. I work hard in school and make sure I stay on top of projects so that I can succeed in college academically. I take AP courses now so that I can get ahead and take more advanced classes in college. I'm preparing for a career in education; but I also want softball to be a part of my college experience. I can't imagine my life without the dirt stains, the late practices, all of the bruises that come with them, and having to wake up at four-thirty on Saturday mornings. I love softball, and hopefully someday, I can teach young girls who love it too.