Diving to the ground, jumping over fences and colliding with other people, freshman outfielder Jojo Wakabayashi’s playing style reads like the script for Hollywood’s newest action film.
Wakabayashi is aggressive on the field though her small 5’0” frame and friendly demeanor may suggest otherwise.

“I’ve always prided myself on working hard,” said Wakabayashi. “I’ll try to steal a base and if I have to collide with someone, that’s not a problem. I’m not afraid of anything.”

Wakabayashi is an emerging leader on the softball team with her hard-hitting offensive play. Wakabayashi leads the team in runs (11), hits (18), and is second in batting average with 0.316, she also leads the team in stolen bases with five.

“There’s always a big risk with stealing bases,” said Wakabayashi. “But… I’ll be aggressive.”
Wakabayashi’s dedication on the field has become important for a team that was ranked ninth in National Fastpitch Coaches Associaton’s preseason poll but currently has a record of 12-12, , according to freshman infielder Carly Foerster.

“Jojo has such a great passion for the game,” said Foerster. “It really shows on the field and during practice when she inspires the other players.”

Wakabayashi was initially nervous coming into the season as one of 10 new players on a team of 22.

“In the beginning it was kind of hard,” she said. “I thought, ‘How am I going to prove myself? How am I going to get in that lineup?’ But once I settled down my mindset became ‘I can hit any pitch’ and things started to come together.”

Wakabayashi’s passion has been apparent since she began playing softball at age seven, according to her father, Glen Wakabayashi.

“She was one of those players that would always be first to practice,” said Glen Wakabayashi.
“She’s been the star on a lot of teams, but she doesn’t have that star mentality.”

Jojo Wakabayashi has integrated nicely into the team dynamic despite her offensive prowess, according to junior pitcher and infielder Vanessa Goncalves.

“For a freshman, it can take time to adjust to college athletics,” said Goncalves. “But [Wakabayashi] works hard on and off the field, has a lot of speed, is good at getting on base and our team needs that.”

Living up to those expectations and trust can be hard, but Wakabayashi is up for the challenge, she said.

“I feel like my teammates and my coaches have a lot of trust in me and I want to be able to fulfill that,” she said. “I don’t want to let them down.”


Contact this reporter: ian.lausa@thepantheronline.com