This year, three seniors at CHS are ready to hang up their bats and gloves on the softball team, marking the end of an era. On May 8th, 2024, Jacqueline Fausto, Alyssa Valdez, and Sara Cornell proudly signed their commitment to continue playing softball at the collegiate level, a testament to their passion and perseverance.
Fausto, a name well known on the softball team, finished her senior season with a remarkable record. With ten runs, thirteen hits, a strong on-base percentage, and an incredible five doubles, she has consistently been a key player for the CHS softball team. Her journey in competitive softball, which began at the age of four, has now led her to LA Harbor College.
“I was fortunate enough to receive multiple offers from different colleges; however, I temporarily took a break during the summer of 2023,” Fausto said. “During the following season, with the help of my coaches and teammates, I regained my original love for the sport and decided to commit to Harbor fully.”
Fausto plans to major in psychology with a minor in kinesiology. Since it is only a two-year college, she plans to attend SAC State and continue her academic career, to earn a BA in psychology. Fausto would like to thank her mom, Edilia Fausto-Robles, for always loving and supporting her throughout her life choices.
Cornell is another senior who has had an incredible senior year in softball. She has impacted the team on the field with seven doubles, two triples, and one home run this season, which displays her sheer skills on the field. Cornell started her softball career playing tee ball in kindergarten and for 12 years now has not stopped playing since.
“I missed a lot of recruiting time due to an injury, so it was really hard and discouraging watching everyone commit when I could not play,” Cornell said. “In the end, I found a school that is the right fit for me in athletics and academics.”
Cornell has committed to Dominican University to play softball in River Forest, Illinois. At Dominican, Cornell will pursue two bachelor’s degrees simultaneously in mathematics and mechanical engineering, with a minor in physics. As for post-college, Cornell plans to have a career as a ride control systems engineer and work on roller coasters.
Finally, Valdez, who plays outfield for Varsity Softball, has accumulated one double, one triple, and one home run throughout her senior year. Starting softball when she was just eight years old, Valdez is on her next step in her softball career and has committed to Simpson University where she plans to enter the nursing program and get her bachelor’s degree in nursing.
“I’m really excited to play softball in college. It’s always been a dream of mine since I was young,” Valdez said. “I can’t wait to see what the next four seasons of softball will bring me.”
After college, Valdez hopes to enter a program working in the ICU and become a nurse anesthetist as well as being around family and friends over the upcoming summer.
Valdez would like to give a massive shoutout to her family for being her greatest supporters and her close friends who have always been there for her.
These three amazing star athletes have undoubtedly made their mark on softball at Claremont High School, and are bound to have an incredible college experience with bright futures ahead of them.
