Western Nebraska Infielder Jasmine Wessel Is NJCAA's RBI Machine

Western Nebraska Infielder Jasmine Wessel Is NJCAA's RBI Machine

Jasmine Wessel has posted mind-boggling numbers this season, hitting .491 and is leading the nation in doubles (30) and RBIs (85); while ranking 29th among junior college players in home runs (14).

Apr 26, 2017 by Dan Pearson
Western Nebraska Infielder Jasmine Wessel Is NJCAA's RBI Machine
There's an old baseball adage that also applies to softball.   

nullIt's a simple game: You hit the ball; you catch the ball; and you throw the ball. For Western Nebraska sophomore Jasmine Wessel, taking that straightforward approach has allowed her to take her game from good to great in one short season.

"I had a pretty good freshman year," Wessel said of her rookie year when she hit .385 with eight home runs and 72 RBIs.

To be honest I always felt like I was pressing. It always felt like I always had a thousand things running through my head. I was too worried about my swing mechanics or the situation on the field. In some ways I knew it was holding me back.
That was when Wessel decided it was time to adjust her mindset.

"Heading into to this year, I just decided that I was just going to take a deep breath and empty my head before stepping into the batters box," she said. "Try not to overthink things and just concentrate on attacking the ball. Just trying to keep things simple."

The new approach has paid off.

Through Friday, Wessel has posted mind-boggling numbers -- hitting .491 and is leading the nation in doubles (30) and second in RBIs (85); while ranking 29th among junior college players in home runs (14). She is also ranked in the top 15 in runs scored (11th, 66), hits (13th, 82), and slugging percentage (15th, .928).


Along the way, she has cutdown on her strikeouts (just four all season) while already exceeding her freshman totals in every significant category.

"Jaz did make some minor adjustments, and I believe it has helped (her) see the ball a little better and a little earlier," Western Nebraska coach Katelyn Groves said. "But the main thing is her confidence level has gone through the roof. Whether it's at the plate, on the base paths, or in the field, her confidence has increased greatly, and that has shown up in her level of play."

Groves added that Wessel's natural ability combined with her instincts has allowed her to emerge as one of the top players in the country.  

"She has great bat speed and always seems to hit the ball hard somewhere," Groves said. "But she is also a really intelligent player. If she sees the third baseman playing back too far, she will drop a bunt down on her own. She isn't the fastest player on the team, but she is always willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win. In the end, that is what makes her a special player, that willingness to always put the team before herself."

With one regular-season series left, Western Nebraska finds itself with a 35-14 record and a second-place standing in conference play. But Wessel strongly believes her team has a chance to get to nationals.

"We have a strong offensive team and have the ability to score a lot of runs," Wessel said. "Earlier this season we got in a groove and ran off 12 wins in a row. When we play with that type of confidence, we can get on a roll and complete with any one."

Wessel, a native of Thornton, CO, has drawn the attention of many four-year schools but has already signed with Metro State in Denver.  

"I'm a bit of a homebody and wanted to give my family and friends a chance to come watch me play," Wessel said. "Playing at Metro, which is close to my hometown will let that happen." She will major in sports medicine and hopes to become an athletic trainer.

Groves believes Metro is getting a great player.  

"Jaz is our energizer bunny," the first-year head coach said.  "She was mostly a catcher as a freshman but made a seamless transition to short stop this year, and she can play third too. She is competitive as they come, works extremely hard, and is constantly pushing herself and those around her to get better. That attitude is infectious and causes those around her to pick up their game."


Like What You See?

Sign up for the FloSoftball newsletter for instant access to: Breaking News, Live Streams, Rankings, Technique Videos and more!