Getting to talk to Jessica was such an honor, her career has entailed so much with softball and beyond softball that I was kind of nervous I would miss something important. While talking to Jess I could just feel the sincerity and the joy she possesses, not just to be playing softball but to be doing so much for the sport. She's the only player in the league that has a child and any mother knows how hard it is to be away from your kids. She has as much on her plate as anyone and she takes it all in stride, with one of the best smiles you're ever likely to see! We see her on ESPN all the time and to be able to stand face-to-face with her and discuss some things was amazing! I learned a lot about Jessica Mendoza in 4 minutes and 46 seconds, but more by how she spoke, carried herself and presented her passion than what she actually said...
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| Mendoza timing up Racers Kristina Thorson |
USSSA Pride Left Fielder Jessica Mendoza on...
...her Olympic experience.
"There's no experience like it, it's the greatest event out there. It combines the passion you have for your sport with the passion you have for your country. There's absolutely nothing like it in the world."
...Olympics getting taken away.
"The fact that they've taken that experience away for millions of young girls, not just here in the US but globally...is heartbreaking."
...where her career has taken her beyond softball.
"I'm now full time with ESPN when I'm not playing, I do all of their college softball. I did this year, for the first time, the men's College World Series in Omaha, which was amazing! I have a full football package, so a few days after we're done with our championship ill fly to the University of Florida for our opener with ESPN. So you"ll see my every Saturday on ESPN on the sidelines."
...being an ambassador of softball.
"To me we're all ambassadors, no matter what level you reach, because there's always someone who's watching you, someone who's looking up to you. I remember when I was young I looked up to local high school girls. Obviously now you've grown and for everyone to realize that we need to pay it forward, we need to show the example of what this next level is. We need to encourage young girls to not only be successful but do it in the classroom as well."
...being a veteran and where her career is headed.
"Honestly I still feel like a little kid most of the time. I feel old when I'm off the field but when I'm on the field, this is the one place in my life where I still feel young. Because of the fact that I've been playing since I was 7 years old and it hasn't changed too much. My talents gotten better but I think that's what I feel like, I don't think 'ahh I'm one of the older ones', I think I'm just a kid you know."
...balancing motherhood and softball.
"I think to have my son out here in a Mendoza jersey, he'll be out here tomorrow night for the rest of the weekend, to have him have that experience of seeing his mom be a professional athlete is amazing. I think that's so important to me raising that not only does he have this amazing dad but he has a mom who's going out and doing what she loves, and also encourage him to do what he loves but also that a lot of girls and woman can be successful in sports."
...her role on the team as a veteran.
"Honestly, that's what's great about the pro level, we don't have as many roles any more. In college you're the captain, the mother hen, the one who's making sure of all these things. I feel like on our team, what makes it so great is we're all accountable for ourselves, for each other. We might have different roles on different days but it's really just about working with each other and getting the job done."
@JessMendoza
@USSSAPride
@profastpitch
@HOFhuddle
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