Stellar week of play for two Javelinas
Saidi Castillo and Jennifer Giesey both earned LSC honors last week for their play on the softball field on April 4.
“I think the play of Saidi and Jennifer speaks volumes to the talent on this team,” Head Coach Craig Nicholson said. “They both had really good weeks against really good competition, and I think they were very deserving of the awards.”
Castillo, a native of Kingsville, officially earned her fourth LSC pitcher of the week award in her career as a Javelina in her junior season. The former 2019 LSC Freshman of the Year and 2021 first-team All-LSC selection accumulated a strong week of competition against the top 10 ranked teams in the conference to catch the eyes of the LSC, and pitched three total victories for the Javelinas.
“It feels good to be able to receive that award,” Castillo said. “I work hard during the games so being able to receive that shows and proves to myself that I’m doing good and helping my team out to the best ability.”
On Tuesday, March 29, against Texas A&M-San Antonio, Castillo threw for three scoreless innings in her time on the mound. She would get her next start on Friday April 1 against the No. 2 ranked UT Tyler in the first game of the doubleheader. In seven innings, Castillo allowed just three earned runs in the 6-4 victory. To finish her pitching week, on April 3 against No. 9 ranked Texas A&M-Commerce, she pitched seven strikeouts, and retired 11 of the 12 batters she faced. After pitching 17 innings for the week, Castillo pitched a 1.65 ERA and added 12 strike outs.
“Everyone who knows me knows I don’t really care about accolades and my own stats,” Castillo said. “I just really want to win and do whatever I can to help the team out.”
Senior Giesey earned her first award for LSC Hitter of the Week while Castillo was pitching the LSC into submission.
“It’s an amazing feeling to have won an award considering I’ve worked so hard to get to where I am today,” Giesey said. “But I never do it for myself, I always do it for my team.”
The second baseman/shortstop from Crystal Lake, Ill., started out her LSC award week with an RBI in each game in the doubleheader against
Texas A&M-San Antonio and just like Castillio, turned up the heat against top 10 teams in the LSC on the road.
The conference matchup against UT Tyler got some impressive hitting from Giesey, sending a third-inning pitch out the park, while also adding a three-run triple in the fourth inning. Giesey went on to dominate Commerce in the doubleheader.
She picked up three hits, and a game-tying two run double in the fifth inning of game one. All games that saw Giesey up to bat saw a victory for the Javelinas.
“I work hard for every one of my teammates,” Giesey said. “They push me to do my best and vice versa so we can compete at a high level and go all the way through the playoffs.”
The two individuals have made major contributions to the team this year, helping the Javelinas to a No. 5 spot in the conference with a shot at the LSC Championship in the future.