ARANSAS PASS — Jocelyne Galvan’s journey from a 9-year-old not wanting to pitch to signing with Vernon College to do just that was filled with plenty of long days at practices, showcases and games.
As the Aransas Pass senior hurler prepares for her senior season with the Panthers, the focus is on continuing to build the strong bond with her teammates and push the program to a deep playoff run.
“I think coming into this season, it’s relax, chill and not worry about that … not worry about college,” Galvan said at a recent Panthers practice in Aransas Pass. “I’m worried about being here with my teammates and going far in the playoffs.”
Galvan has made an impact on the program from the time she walked onto the field as a freshman as a pitcher and a hitter. A year ago, Galvan led the Panthers to their first back-to-back playoff appearances in more than a decade and returns this season looking to lead them to their first playoff victory in 16 seasons.
“Talent is great, but I forgot who said it but, ‘Be grateful for your talents but be proud of your choices,’” Aransas Pass coach Jacob Flores said. “She has the talent, but she’s made the choice to put in the time and the effort to do all the little things before the season starts to be prepared, which we are proud of her.”
Galvan’s pitching career began at the behest of her father who was looking for another pitcher on the team that Galvan was playing. But Galvan was hesitant but over time, she began to see she was pretty good at it.
She was later noticed by a coach that suggested she play for a select team in Corpus Christi, and that started on the path of playing on different summer teams and playing in showcases. She later joined a select team based in Portland — Premier Gold — and also began emailing coaches multiple times to let them know she was interested in playing in college.
An assistant coach at Vernon had made contact with Galvan periodically and in December of her junior year, she made a visit, which included a tour and a pitching tryout in front of the head coach. The offer came shortly after, and Galvan jumped at the opportunity.
“It was, ‘Hey we want to give you a full ride’ … the first two years paid for, and I’ll take it,” Galvan said. “I think a lot of it took patience for me … patience is when God wants it to happen it’s going to happen. It’s all going to fall in place eventually. You don’t go to force it, it’s going to fall in place.”
Meanwhile, on the high school field, Galvan continued to showcase her talents and was showing that she was one of the area’s most talented players regardless of classification.
In the truncated 2020 season, Galvan hit a scorching .422 and was 9-2 in the circle with 145 strikeouts. She followed that up in 2021, hitting .392 and had 153 strikeouts in 98.1 innings.
And then in 2022, Galvan was named the District 29-3A Defensive Player of the Year with a 14-13 record in the circle with 273 strikeouts and a 2.208 ERA as she continued to develop more pitches while perfecting her curve ball — her best pitch. She also hit .389 with 24 RBI and struck out 13 times in 107 plate appearances.
Beyond those statistics, though, Galvan said she grew as a person and a leader and is ready to help push Aransas Pass to greater softball success.
“My freshmen year, I had it in me to be a leader, but I wasn’t, it was me, me, me, me … and being honest just worrying about myself,” Galvan said. “But I think as I’ve grown, I’ve become a better person.
“I think we need to stick together and coming into it know that we can do it. As long as we stay together, we will be fine … why not us?”
BREAKING DOWN CLASS 3A, 2A AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS
DISTRICT 29-3A
ARANSAS PASS
2022 Record: 17-16-1, 8-6 in 29-3A
Last playoff appearance: 2022 (lost in bi-district round)
Key players returning: P Jocelyne Galvan, sr.; C Isabella Valdez; IF Abrianna Sansom; SS Courteney Heyward
GEORGE WEST
2022 Record: 9-23, 2-12 in 29-3A
Last playoff appearance: 2016
MATHIS
2022 Record: 31-2, 14-0 in 29-3A
Last playoff appearance: 2022 (lost in regional quarterfinals)
ODEM
2022 Record: 16-13, 9-6 in 29-3A
Last playoff appearance: 2022 (lost in bi-district round)
Key players returning: SS Zoey Garcia, sr. (.467, 24 RBI, 17 R); OF Bella Salinas, sr. (.473, 24 RBI, 33 R); P Aria Bray, so. (7-7, 3.50 ERA); 1B Dezirae Moreno, jr.
TAFT
2022 Record: 19-11-2, 6-8 in 29-3A
Last playoff appearance: 2018
Key players returning: P Bianca Gonzales, so. (16-10, 263 K, 1.25 ERA, .427); OF Juliana Alaniz, so. (.434, 27 RBI, 29 R)
Caller-Times Prediction: 1. Mathis; 2. Aransas Pass; 3. Taft; 4. Odem; 5. Goliad; 6. George West
DISTRICT 30-3A
BANQUETE
2022 Record: 9-14, 3-6 in 30-3A
Last playoff appearance: 2019
Key players returning: C Ariel Flores, so. (.516, 27 RBI); P Bailey Nobles, jr. (100 K, 5-10); 2B Liana Jimenez, jr. (.345, 21 R, 10 RBI)
LONDON
2022 Record: 8-4 in 30-3A
Last playoff appearance: 2022 (lost in regional quarterfinals)
Key players returning: OF Chrysta Coy, so.; OF Madelyn Perez, jr.; 1B Eva Gallegos; SS Parker Rhoden, sr. (.539)
FALFURRIAS
2022 Record: 0-12 in 30-3A
Last playoff appearance: 2021
HEBBRONVILLE
2022 Record: 13-18, 4-8 in 30-3A
Last playoff appearance: 2018
Key players returning: P Kadence Trevino, so. (.410, 25 RBI, 141 K); SS Alexia Alegria, jr. (.486, 27 RB, 30 R); C Karian Alarcon, so. (.422, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 27 R)
SAN DIEGO
2022 Record: 14-17, 5-7 in 30-3A
Last playoff appearance: 2022 (lost in bi-district round)
Key players returning: OF Marlaina Sanchez, jr.; P Kyrsten Perez, sr.; C Makaylee Adams, sr.
SANTA GERTRUDIS ACADEMY
2022 Record: 26-8-2, 10-2 in 30-3A
Last playoff appearance: 2022 (lost in area round)
Key players returning: 1B Isabella De Los Santos, so. (.435, 19 RBI, 29 R); SS Adriana Mireles, jr. (.545, 33 SB); OF Carina Palacios, jr. (.441, 31 RBI)
Caller-Times Prediction: 1. Santa Gertrudis Academy; 2. Hebbronville; 3. London; 4. San Diego; 5. Banquete; 6. Falfurrias
2A AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Players to Watch in 2023
P Ava Aleman, sr., IWA: The Hooks Pre-Season All-Star returns to help anchor the squad offensively and defensively.
C Hailey Allen, sr., Woodsboro: One of eight returning starters for the Eagles.
P Emily Balboa, jr., Freer: One of two returning starters for Freer entering the season.
C Samantha Barker, jr., Freer: One of two returning starters for the Buckaroos.
Chay Callis, Refugio: One of five returning Bobcats starters.
OF Andrea Cantu, sr., Premont: Returning first team all-district player for Cowgirls.
P Monica Carrillo, sr., IWA: Carrillo earned all-state honors in 2022.
Elisa Flores, Refugio: The reigning Newcomer of the Year from the district
C Claudia Fuentes, sr., Skidmore-Tynan: Fuentes will be a key part for the Bobcats as they move to Class 2A.
Bianca Jimenez, Refugio: Returning first-team all-district player for Refugio.
C Kailey Marroquin, sr., IWA: Committed to Kilgore College and was an all-state honoree in 2022.
Kristal Rodriguez, Refugio: Returning first-team all-district player for Refugio.
3B Perla Rodriguez, jr., IWA: An all-state honoree in 2022.
3B Tonya Rodriguez, jr., Woodsboro: A second-team all-district selection in 2022.
SS Mercedes Salinas, sr., IWA: One of six returning starters from district championship squad.
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