Allan Hancock College sophomore Jessica Rothanzl is off to a great start this softball season, leading the team to six straight wins with a .526 batting average and two home runs. Along with pitcher Katie Chernault, she’s signed her letter of intent to play at Cal State Northridge next year.
Coach Scia Maumausolo said Rothanzl has always been very competitive. Rothanzl, who plays first base, “has the ability to just dominate and focus.”
Maumausolo met Rothanzl a half-decade ago at Ernest Righetti High School, where she worked as a batting coach for the softball team.
“She opened my eyes to new ways to hit,” Rothanzl said. “More mature, my mental game has opened a lot. It’s just opened so many doors to better my softball career. I’ve known her since I was a sophomore in high school. We trust each other, so we trust the team. Everything comes together and it works.”
Over the past five years, Maumausolo said Rothanzl has progressed a lot.
“She’s becoming a young woman and academics are growing up. And also in the sport. She’s a good player all around. She’s light hearted in the sense that she keeps everybody light. She’s a very positive kid,” Maumausolo said.
Near the end of the Bulldogs’ face-off against Citrus College on Feb. 28, Rothanzl was faced with a tough defensive situation. The bases were loaded and there were two outs. She nabbed the ball at first and helped her team secure a victory.
In mid-February, Rothanzl hit a grand slam when the Bulldogs were down by three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, snatching victory back for her team.
“We came back in the end, and that was just awesome. We didn’t stop at all, and we rallied,” said Rothanzl.
According to Maumausolo, that game was the offensive highlight of the Bulldogs’ season so far.
Off the field, Rothanzl is empathetic, almost to a fault.
“She absolutely goes out of her way to help anybody, especially her teammates. Willing to help anybody at any time, it shows in her life on and off the field,” Maumausolo said.
Rothanzl said that she enjoys softball as a chance to focus and escape from her day-to-day struggles.
“I like playing softball because when I’m on the field it takes everything outside away—all the stresses. It’s really fun and I just enjoy it a lot,” she said.
