Movin' On Up: Navarette, Granger commit to play college softball

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From left: Jillian Navarette, head coach George Frederick and Mary Jo Granger pose at the high school softball stadium. Navarette and Granger sport the T-shirts of the schools they ll be playing softball in the spring of 2013. Navarette will be playing at junior college softball powerhouse Howard College in Big Spring, Texas, and Granger will staying in state to play at Eastern New Mexico University.

CARLSBAD ? Two former Cavegirls will take their talents to the next level in college softball with both staying close to home.

Mary Jo Granger and Jillian Navarette graduated from Carlsbad in May, but their time playing softball has not ended. Granger will play for Eastern New Mexico University and Navarette will play for Howard College in Big Spring, Texas, one of the top junior college softball programs in the country.

Granger heads into ENMU knowing the number of pitchers the program has, but she's ready to fight for a position and playing time.

"It's a challenge to fight for a position," Granger said. "But I'll be getting pretty good playing time."

The ENMU softball team went 15-34 last season with numerous freshmen on the roster. Granger joins that group to still be a young team. Granger said she looks forward to getting to know her new teammates and start over with young players.

"We'll start getting used to each other and picking up on each other very easy," she said.

Navarette will join up with a team that played in the junior college national championship tournament this past season when she goes to Howard. She hopes to contribute in any way she can.

"I just hope I can go in there and help the team out and be a positive impact," Navarette said.

She said hard work will be required on her part to one day transfer elsewhere after her time at Howard is over.

"It'll take lots of hard work, especially if I want to go to a [NCAA Division

I] school," she said. "I just have to work hard and always be improving all the time."

Both players said the experiences of playing in Carlsbad will help them as they move on to college softball.

"One thing in Carlsbad I'll always remember is how team oriented everyone was," Navarette said. "You have to stick together or else you will get nowhere ? staying together, being a team player, and not thinking of only yourself."

Granger thought for a moment about how her Carlsbad experiences will help her going forward into college, and then her mom helped her remember all the playing experience she's had.

"I'd say the five years experience she's had in the state tournament," Lisa Granger said. "She's been in there since eighth grade."

Head softball coach George Frederick had advice for both of his players as they get ready to move on.

To Mary Jo Granger he said she needs to just do her best.

"She's a hard worker," he said. "She tries to do everything you ask, and she's done that for five years here ? three years since I've been the head coach ? and she's going to be a success because that's the type of person she is."

To Navarette he said she needs to be herself.

"She's focused on what she wants to do," he said. "She's a very good leader. She's the best first baseman I've ever seen in high school softball. She's worth two or three runs a game at first base, and she's an outstanding person."

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