Junior Susan Jallo being announced in the starting lineup and welcomed by her teammates. Jallo has started every game for UT in her collegiate career, all of those starts coming at third base. | Samantha Battersby/The Minaret
University of Tampa softball third baseman Susan Jallo has started every game for the Spartans in her three-year college career. Jallo, who is from Dunedin, chose to play softball at UT because of its close proximity to home and it seemed like a good fit.
“I was at a recruitment tournament and just committed. It was a spur of the moment kind of thing,” Jallo said.
Now in her junior year, Jallo has started every game during her career at UT. Starting that many games in the field and in the lineup without taking days off involves endurance and stamina; it also involves playing through pain.
“I just try to work hard and work out a lot. [I try to] stay healthy on my own. If I’m hurt I’ll just keep going,” Jallo said.
Her teammate, shortstop Julie Wisniewski, confirmed that point.
“She plays through a lot of pain,” Wisniewski said. “She’s a really intense person.”
Jallo has always produced for the Spartans. Her first year, she had eight stolen bases. Her sophomore season, she posted a .257 batting average and led the team in stolen bases, with 14. She has improved even more this year. Currently, Jallo maintains a .315 batting average, with 17 stolen bases. Clearly, stealing bases is Jallo’s strong suit.
“I love running,” she said. “I’m quick so I like it because I know I can get there. Every time I see a bobble, a change-up, or something on the ground, I just take off.”
It’s no surprise that Jallo is having such a great season; all of her accomplishments were part of her objectives for the season.
“[Stolen bases is] one of my goals. [Other goals are] batting over .300 all year and having my stolen bases up as high as possible,” Jallo said.
As for her hitting, she said that it’s all about practice.
“I bat [at practice] every day, then I practice with a batting instructor and practice on my own. I’m working a lot harder than last year I guess.”
It’s paying off. Jallo is second on the team with multi-hit games, at nine. She is first on the team with multi-RBI games, with eight. Along with Jallo’s personal success, the team as a whole is having success too. “I’ve been here since I was a freshman and I think this is the best year so far,” Jallo said. “Our line-up, one through nine, is just phenomenal. There really isn’t a weak spot.”
It’s also about chemistry among teammates.
“We work really well together. We all know we’re good this year so we’re trying our hardest to just win,” Jallo said.
As for the rest of the year, it’s about maintaining the success for Jallo and for the team as a whole.
“I want to keep my batting average above .300, I want my stolen bases to be over 30 if possible, and I want my errors to stay under 10,” Jallo said, who currently has committed six errors. “Team-wise, I just want to win. I want to come out first in our conference.”
April Weiner can be reached at april.weiner@spartans.ut.edu.
Loading ...
