Eagle Defender Jolie Jensen’s Infield Heroics In Softball, And Digging For Saves In Volleyball, Are Good D For Wv

There’s little glamor in sports for defensive specialists like West Valley first baseman Jolie Jensen.

Without her, however, the Eagle softball team may not be the champions of the Frontier League for the seventh time in 12 years.

“She makes plays that saved our infielders that you wouldn’t believe.” said coach Steve Kent.

The defensive plays were especially important early in the season, before West Valley’s bats came alive.

Last week her play helped WV sweep East Valley in a doubleheader that completed the Eagles 17-1 season.

With two outs and runners at second and third, she saved two runs as she dove to block a hard hit ball down the first base line, rolled over and tagged the base for the out.

That kind of acrobatic wizardry and ability to snag hard, close-range throws from her teammates continually amazed Kent and caught the attention of opponents.

“When she was a sophomore and Cheney was pretty good, about the 12th inning (second game of a doubleheader) she stretched to get an infield out and the coach says to me, ‘she’s killing us,”’ Kent said.

Jensen’s standout defensive abilities also extend to volleyball. As a junior she was first-team All-Frontier volleyball defensive specialist and was second-team All-Frontier last fall.

“I played all around, but it was still primarily for defense,” she said. “I’m a defensive person in both sports.”

Digging a volleyball spiked at you, she said, is a lot like catching a softball.

For a person not tall enough - at 5-foot-5 - to be a powerful volleyball hitter and one who is her own biggest critic when measuring softball offensive output, being good defensively is the best way to contribute.

Jensen had been a catcher until her sophomore year when the Eagles had two players at that position. It didn’t take Kent long to see what she could do when he asked her to switch.

“Jensen is a magician at first base,” he said.

She said it was an easy position to learn.

“I guess now I like it better because it’s not as stressful,” she said.

Jensen has managed to keep busy during four years at West Valley. Besides competing in two sports, she carries a near-perfect grade point average and is a cheerleader.

Last year she had to race from the district softball playoffs at Franklin Park - where WV qualified for its 10th state tournament in 12 years - to the Lilac Parade.

“Last year I ran from the field and marched in the parade (with the other cheerleaders) with a gash on my knee,” she said.

Following high school she will enroll at the University of Oregon to follow in the footsteps of an uncle. She will major in interior design.

Will it be tough to end her athletic career which included a state appearance in volleyball, two or maybe three trips in softball? Or is Jensen excited to move on?

“A little of both,” she said. “Last year when volleyball ended I was in tears. I think I’ll be crying hard (when softball is over).”

The coach may be a bit sad as well.

“She will be tough to replace,” Kent said. “You don’t often get a person with that kind of acrobatics.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo