Before the ridiculous heat wave hit Southern California and the ‘Niners softball team took two of three from the preseason Big West favorites Cal Poly, I caught up with senior shortstop Jessica Beaver. There are a few reasons why she is worthy of you knowing her name. For one she is the shortstop on the #15 ranked team in the country. Two, she can hit—leads the team in homeruns, second in batting average. Three, she is a character who laughs as much as she scoops up grounders. So enjoy getting to know the soft-speaking, diamond girl as she talked about the ‘Niners season, who is the best shortstop at Long Beach State and some food tips.

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Alright first things first, how many “Leave it to Beaver” jokes have you heard over your life?

(Laughs) All my life, some one my teammates have called me Wally ‘cause they say I remind them of Wally (laughs). I get a lot of Beaver jokes.

Talk a little bit about what to expect from this weekend versus Cal Poly?

It’s going to be tough. Them, Santa Barbara and Fullerton should be the toughest competition in conference. I think that we really need to pull out a sweep. We need to pull together and win as a team. They’ve got good pitching, good defense. Their pitching is what hurt us last season [Ed note: when Cal Poly swept the ‘Niners] but their main pitcher graduated. But, they have girls that are still good. Helen Pena, I played high school with her, she is good and so is Anna Cahn.

About that sweep from last year, is payback on the mind?

Yeah, a lot, we want to [beat] them bad. We want to let them know that last year was a fluke.

I like that enthusiasm, so what’s up with that knee brace you wear?

I had to have ACL surgery– like eight months ago.

And you are already playing and at full-strength?

Yea, I just had to wear this huge knee brace at first but I just got to go to a smaller one.

So what happened, how did you injure it?

I don’t know, I played two to three months on it and didn’t even know it was hurt. I finally got a huge (pain) in my knee and there was like no ACL at all, no bloodstream or anything.

How was the recovery process?

A lot of rehabbing, (Physical Therapy) like two times a day sometimes. Our old trainer pushed me everyday, so I came back pretty fast.

How does it feel to be playing for the #15 team in college softball?

Good, but I wish we were higher.

Think you deserve to be higher?

I think we do, I think we deserve to be higher—I think we have a really good team and a lot of talent. I think the difference between our team and other teams, is that anybody at anytime could be the hero. And our pitching is really good this year, which helps a lot.

I think we should go farther than we ever have before.

What’s next for you after graduation?

Right now I am working on going to Belgium.

Belgium? What’s in Belgium?

Just plan on playing there in the summer. They have like a little mini pro-league and you go all around Europe and play everybody in Europe. So I might go play there. I think it might be a good experience. But then after that I will have to get a real job (laughs).

Looking back, what will be your fondest memory as a 49er?

Just the whole experience, and how it has changed me as a person, and how I’ve grown-up through all this. I really like to play softball and all my life I have played softball, you grow up through it and I have grown up with all these girls—like Bridgette (Pagano) who I have known since I was way little.

That was a good answer (laughs).

Ha, yea it was. Let’s talk about you batting leadoff. Let’s be honest, you’re not the stereotypical softball leadoff hitter. How do you fit into that role? And what makes you so effective at the top of the line-up?

I don’t know (laughs). Just one day we were sitting at Subway in Hawaii and coach was like ‘were gonna change up our lineup, you’re going to bat leadoff.’ And I thought it was a joke, but the next day I really was batting lead-off.

But I don’t really fit that role at all. I love swinging at first pitches, I am not a patient person at all. I would hit every pitch that is thrown at me and…I don’t know how I got there.

But it’s fun when you lead-off with a homerun (laughs).

I bet, what do you love most about playing shortstop?

What do I lo
ve about it?

What, you don’t love it? Too much pressure?

No, I love it—I love making amazing plays. You know the plays that pump everybody up? The backhands in the five-six hole—that’s my favorite, up the middle, not so much.

I got to give it to you though, you get rid of the ball faster than anyone I’ve seen.

(Laughs) I really got to, especially with the slap hitters—like I can’t even set my feet.

With that said, I guess what everyone wants to know is, who is the best shortstop at Long Beach State? You or Danny?

(Laugh) We both have our good and bad qualities (laughs).

You don’t want to say on the record that you’re a better shortstop?

No (smiles).

What shortstops do you enjoy to watch?

I love (Rafael) Furcal and I love Derek Jeter—of course. And umm, J.J. Hardy.

That’s a good one—a lot of people aren’t too familiar with Hardy. Tell me about Jessica Beaver the person. What do you do when you are not playing softball?

Eating and sleeping. Some homework, I am graduating so I got to get it done.

Any hobbies?

Softball (laughs)

Softball, that’s it?

(laughs)

You said you like to eat right?

Ohh, I love to eat. I love Italian food. I love Mexican food. My favorite place to eat back home is this place called “The Taco Shop.” It is so good.

But you really can’t be eating that kind of stuff during the season, right?

No. Oh and I love mango con chile—so good.

Favorite restaurant?

Red Robin’s. You got to get the ranch with the buffalo sauce and dip the fries in the buffalo then the ranch. So good. You should try it.

I might have to head over there later. But what sport would you be playing if you didn’t play softball?

Basketball.

You play in high school?

Yea and it was fun ‘cause it wasn’t like my real sport, but I think I was better at it because of that.

Really? What did you play?

Point guard.

You just like having the leader-role on your team don’t you?

(Laughs) I just like those big positions I guess.

I noticed a few times already this season that the team is bobbing their heads on the field, dancing around and stuff, what would be in your on-the-field mixtape?

All rap. Some Swizz Beatz. Hmm let me think—Solja Boy is a classic now. It started off our whole year.

Can you do the dance?

Yea (laughs).

We’d have to put “Sexy Can I” by Ray J. Ah, there are so many, I can’t even think. You put me on the spot. There are so many songs, I don’t know.

You got a favorite artist?

I do, T.I. He’s good. He’s funny.

He’s funny?

Yea and I like him in movies too. Like in American Gangster—that was a good one.

Is that one of your favorite movies?

Yea, that and The Patriot.

Cool, but two very different movies. Would you say that’s kind of how you are, with two personalities?

Oh yea. I don’t know when I’m out there (on the field) it’s just different. It is like my own little word, I guess you can say. I’m a little goofy but out there I get really serious and get angry. And just want to win—all that stuff.

And that makes you a better competitor right?

Yea, I’m very competitive. I’m competitive walking to the fridge. We are always competing at my house. I live with Bridgette and Kelly Cross.

That’s cool—bet it is fun. So, ideally how would this season end?

At the (women’s college) World Series—I think we deserve to be there. We have put in a lot of effort this year—a lot of effort.

You deserve to be there, but do you think you will be there?

Yea I do. I think we’ve got enough talent and enough experience to go all the way.