Sahvanna Jaquish is on track to become one of LSU’s most decorated players.
Jaquish, a native of Highland Hills, California, has stepped on the softball field in a jersey that spells ‘LSU’ across the front 196 times.
Before the start of the season, Jaquish was named Preseason All-SEC and the USA Softball Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List.
Jaquish built a strong foundation her freshman year earning honors of LSWA Freshman of the Year, LSWA All-Louisiana First Team, All-SEC First Team, SEC All-Freshman Team and All-America Second Team.
Jaquish was only the sixth player in school history to make first team All-SEC as a freshman, with junior pitcher Carley Hoover being the seventh.
Jaquish played in all but two games her freshman season and split her time between designated player, catcher and shortstop.
She led the team in batting average .341, home runs 17, RBI 55, slugging percentage .699 and total bases 121 in the 2014 season.
“I think Sahvanna has been breaking records since the day she walked on campus,” coach Beth Torina said. “She has just done it the entire way.”
Last season, Jaquish set a new school record of multi-RBI games with 23. Jaquish tallied 13 home runs and 76 RBIs which tied her own school record she set her sophomore year.
“Sometimes I don’t even know she has broken a record,” Torina said. “She has broken so many.”
Since her freshman year, Jaquish has continued to add to her list of awards. Jaquish has been an All-American each year so far and was first team All-SEC again in the 2015 season as a sophomore.
Jaquish has had experience all over the field, playing all of her games at first base, third base, shortstop, catcher or designated player.
“It feels like you could stand her at any position on the field and she would look like the best one out there at every position,” Torina said.
Jaquish’s role this year will change more than ever, as she is focusing on playing catcher and being a mentor to a talented freshmen class.
One freshman in particular has had a lot of help from Jaquish.
“Working with one of the best athletes in the country as my teammate is awesome,” infielder Amanda Doyle said. “Sahvanna has helped me a lot at third base. She has really been someone I can look up to on and off the field.”
With the experience Jaquish has had, she is able to pass down everything she has learned.
“She is just a great leader for us,” Torina said. “When she’s on the field, we’re better, not just because she’s a great player, but because of what she says to us, how she leads us, how she speaks, what she does for us. She’s very calming, very comforting. She gives us confidence. She does so much for us.”
The Tigers are adding a lot of young talent to the team this year and will be counting on the veterans to carry the load.
Jaquish will play in her last first game this Friday at Tiger Park when the Tigers take on Oklahoma State and Penn State.
“I have no doubt she will continue to write her name all over the history book, and I will enjoy watching every bit of it,” Torina said.