After winning four-consecutive Central Coast Section championships wearing a San Benito High softball jersey, Jessica Vest is used to winning.
And that was no different during her freshman year at Oklahoma University. Vest and the Sooners advanced to the final game of the College World Series – and even held an early 3-0 lead – before falling to Alabama 5-4. The Sooners won the Big 12 conference title and finished the season as the No. 4 ranked team in the country with a 54-10 record.
It was a whirlwind season for the Sooner starting shortstop, she said in an interview less than a week after the season’s final out was recorded.
“It was a great experience,” Vest said, “especially, how far we got. I played with a great team and one of the best pitchers in Keilani (Ricketts). We had a really great year. We were peaking all year.”
The year started with Vest having to battle for playing time. As a freshman on a Top 25 team, batting opportunities were scarce, but her glove gave her the opportunity.
“My goal coming in was to play shortstop,” she said. “I definitely had to earn it.”
And she did.
With plenty of power – Oklahoma led the nation with 102 home runs – Sooners head coach Patty Gasso wanted to emphasize defense, and Vest benefited. Vest was used primarily as a defensive specialist, starting a majority of the team’s games at shortstop. With 84 chances during the year, Vest made seven errors to finish with a .917 fielding percentage.
“She (Gasso) has a lot of pride in defense and we worked a lot on it,” Vest said.
She started every game of the College World Series, committing two errors in six games.
At the plate, Vest finished with a batting average of .111 in just 42 at-bats. She scored 10 runs – mostly as a pinch runner – and drove in five RBIs.
Her goal for next year is simple: Get more at-bats.
“That’s something I’m going to work hard at this summer,” she said. “It’s hard to get at-bats with our lineup.”
The most difficult thing this past year, though, wasn’t hitting but the speed of the game, which was faster, she said.
“It was just quicker,” she said. “I had to be more aggressive and just work faster. There was a lot of quickness.”
Regardless of the year’s finish, it was a successful season for Vest in Norman.
“It was really exciting,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to play in the World Series. It was a blessing to get as far as we did.”
