Marian Catholic sophomore Gracie Jensen is a starter in both basketball and softball. She excels in both sports, and has plenty of time to decide on her college future.
The ballots, however, are already coming in.
Softball teammate Nicole Paris cast hers during Monday’s practice.
“Oh, it’ll be softball, for sure,” Paris said, smiling. “I just feel like there is more of a passion and a love for softball. It’s still there for basketball, but I think this is her first love.”
Marian Catholic coach Nora Zerante will second that motion.
“It’ll be softball, no doubt, to me,” Zerante said. “I think it’s a no-brainer. She’s an incredibly talented basketball player as well. But if I’m betting, I’m going with softball. I’ll say that on record.”
The record shows Jensen, one of the top underclassmen in the Southland going into the 2023 season, is already established as a team leader at Marian.
A shortstop/third baseman, she was impressive as a freshman in helping lead the Spartans to a Class 3A sectional final. She batted .367 with five home runs, 19 RBIs and a .589 slugging percentage.
Any freshman jitters she may have had were blasted away during an early season tournament game in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Jensen hit a game-winning, walk-off home run to beat Westerville North, Ohio.
“I remember being nervous going up there,” Jensen said, “I just wanted to stick to my mechanics and hit a ground ball for a hit to get on base. And it just went out.
“It was really great to have the team celebrate with me. It was awesome.”
There were more highlights to come.
Jensen was the star of the game in a 10-5 win over Peotone, going 4-for-4. She also had three hits against Marist ace Brooke McNichols.
“That was great,” Jensen said. “That was a great feeling as a freshman, facing a future Division I pitcher and getting those hits. It told me that if I keep working, I can possibly be in the same place as she is.”
Needless to say, the nerves are gone. And the dreams are starting to come true.
“I did dream big as a little kid,” Jensen said. “I wanted to play. I wanted to be that person that my team could rely on and play big minutes. So I kept working at it, and it just kind of happened.”
Jensen made her first impression for the Spartans during a summer basketball camp. Marian coach Dan Murray brought her up to the varsity halfway through her freshman season.
Murray also gave Zerante a heads up.
“He told me, ‘You might have a softball player here,’” Zerante said. “He saw the athleticism. He and I have a good working relationship. We both feel the more versatile these kids are, the better.”
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Murray wasn’t wrong. At the plate, Jensen is powerful.
“She is one of those players that when she’s in the box, you know you have a chance,” Zerante said. “And on defense, she can be everywhere.
“Gracie has a ton of softball smarts. She has a maturity and a sense for the game that’s beyond how old she is.”
Jensen and Paris, meanwhile, have the left side of the infield covered.
“For us, it’s just a game of trusting each other and knowing we have each other’s back, no matter what,” Paris said. “We’re always communicating. She plays with a lot of grit, and you can see her work ethic when she shows up at practice every single day.”
Paris wasn’t wrong about the passion. Jensen hasn’t committed. But she is leaning.
“I just love softball so much,” Jensen said. “I work every day at it, and I just want to go so far with it.”
