Among Javelina softball’s many accomplishments this season, the greatest has to be being ranked sixth nationally by ESPN, after being ranked 15th, 12th then 11th.
The Javelinas ended their recent matchups in style to say the least.
Pitcher Saidi Castillo threw a perfect game against Eastern New Mexico, while teammate and first basemen Anastasia Leibas hit a walk-off to end the first matchup against the Hounds.
They were able to pull off a doubleheader sweep and remain ranked No. 6 against nationally ranked No. 9 West Texas A&M.
In the same weekend of their very impressive wins against Eastern New Mexico, Head Coach Craig Nicholson secured his 1,100th career win as a head coach.
“I mean I’m not really one to worry too much about milestones and that kind of stuff, we got three big wins this weekend and we continue to move forward; we moved into first place in the conference so that’s great as well,” Nicholson said.
Nicholson added, “There are a lot of people that have gone into winning that many games, a lot of players, a lot of assistant coaches; it just makes you think and reflect back on some of those special people in your life and in your career and be thankful, but the most important thing is staying ready for the next opponent and not getting too wrapped up in the accolades.”
Castillo is just a freshman, but you would never be able to tell with the stature and composure she portrays while out on the mound.
“High school really prepared me for the college level to know the expectations I had coming into college.
In high school I played against some really good competition as well as in travel ball; both helped me see the competition that was out there and know that I wasn’t going to have it easy as I transferred into college softball,” Castillo said.
In the beginning, the Javelinas were unranked, which brought a feeling of discredit after a while because of their hard work. That helped motivate them to the spot they are in now.
“It was kind okay in the beginning because we were a brand new team and no one really knew us, but after we started winning and proving that we are better than what everybody expected, still being unranked, it pushed us harder to want to practice harder, to want to be better, win more, to prove to ourselves we can run with the best of them,” Leibas said.
“I think it really honestly brought us together, closer as a team because everybody wanted one thing and that was to be ranked and continue getting to the top.”
The Javelinas will be back in action at home at 6 p.m., Friday, April 5, at the Vernie and Blanche Hubert Field.
