GILROY—No matter what was happening at home or school, Adrianna Ortega has always found solace on the softball diamond.
It’s out there she can blast away her problems with her softball bat or gain mental toughness from a loss. Ortega has used softball as a positive outlet when dealing with life’s struggles, and now it’s become a means to better her future, too.
On June 3, the Rams’ catcher/utility player signed her letter of intent to play softball with Menlo College next season at Gavilan College.
“I felt good. I was happy that I got to sign to keep playing and stay close to home,” Ortega said.
Ortega wasn’t the only happy Ram either. Though she’s sad to see her go, Gavilan coach Nikki Dequin said she’s honored to have helped Ortega achieve her dreams.
“That was kind of my goals coming here; I wanted to help provide opportunities for the young ladies in our area,” Gavilan coach Nikki Dequin said. “To be able to help Adri move on is really exciting to see.”
Ortega started playing softball at 5 years old at the tee-ball level. She worked her way up, playing for Gilroy High and helped the Mustangs win the Central Coast Section Division II title in 2013.
And her softball success continued at Gavilan.
Ortega helped the Rams win their first Coast Conference-South title in over 30 years last season. She hit eight homeruns and drove in 156 runs through two seasons with the Rams.
“She is such a fierce competitor,” Dequin said. “She doesn’t say much, but when she does, you know she means business. She just puts her head down and works; she grinds and that’s why she’s able to go on and play at the next level. She just works so hard at it.”
Ortega is joining an Oaks team that went 11-27 this season. She looks to help Menlo right the ship next season and will certainly bolster their offense.
She’ll be just up the road in Atherton and close to family, too, which Ortega said was an important factor in her decision.
It’s been a quick two years on the Gavilan campus, but Ortega said she learned a lot both on the field and in the classroom. But it was Dequin and the Rams had the biggest impact on her, she said, and the ones who helped her grow as a person.
“(I learned) a lot about how to be mentally strong,” Ortega said. ”We talked a lot about the mental game and staying mentally tough.”
Ortega will use that toughness as she pursues an education in a mentally taxing field: psychology. Her dream, she said, is to get into social work after graduation and Dequin said she has no doubts the Gilroy-native will succeed.
“She’s one of those young ladies that every coach loves to have in their program,” Dequin said. “She goes above and beyond not only on the field, but in the classroom and in the community. She’s the total package. She’s a great kid.”
