Softball has always been a part of freshman Jenna Lilley’s life, even before she took the field to play.
Her two older sisters, Tricia and Megan, played softball at Purdue University and Northwestern University, respectively. Her older brother Brett played baseball at University of Notre Dame, and made an appearance on a minor league team under the Cardinals franchise.
“There are pictures of me as a baby at all their games,” Lilley said. “I grew up watching them play pretty much every weekend.”
Lilley stopped playing soccer in seventh grade and dedicated her time to softball. A native of North Canton, Ohio, Lilley had the opportunity to spend time with the local Women’s Pro Softball League team, the Akron Racers. She received advice and coaching assistance from members of the team – interactions that assisted her development as a player.
As her own prep career progressed and she entered high school, Lilley started to gain the attention of college recruiters. No other Pac-12 schools besides Oregon actively recruited her at the time, something Lilley largely attributes to her “late development.”
“They start recruiting so early… I was like barely breaking 100 pounds and barely 5’ 2”,” laughed Lilley.
And while her developing skill set drew offers from schools from around the country, Lilley was set on being a Duck.
“The second I saw (former Oregon assistant coach) Lisa Dodd at my games, I had no idea they were even looking at me… but I saw her and just thought ‘I want to go there.’”
Her feelings were confirmed after she attended a softball camp in Eugene the summer after her freshman year of high school: “I knew the second that I got here that I wanted to commit,” said Lilley.
Lilley was later declared the nation’s No. 1 recruit in her signing class by StudentSports.com.
The declared sociology major has adjusted well to life in Eugene, and stays busy to avoid missing home. One of the youngest members of the team, Lilley has already emerged as a silent leader through her work ethic.
“She comes out here even though she is having good success, she’s one of the first here, one of the last to leave, she’s taking ground balls… It’s just a joy to see,” said Oregon softball head coach Mike White. “She’s a leader without being a leader.”
Lilley is now starting at third base and batting third in the line up for a No. 1 ranked Oregon team that is poised to make another run in the Women’s College World Series. She is also set to play for the USA Softball junior national team during the upcoming summer 2015 season.
“I’m not going to be the one to tell her she can’t do something, she’s one of those kids… or actually, I might do that, because she might end up proving me wrong,” White said.