Sophomore pitcher Cassie Cervantes has all the potential to be the best pitcher in softball, and knows it. From the small town of Red Bluff, she has managed to maintain her humility as she tries to balance college life and athletics.

Born in Red Bluff, she’s the only child of Tito and Tena Cervantes. Cervantes started playing softball at age eight, choosing then to be a pitcher.

“I wanted to be the center of attention,” Cervantes said.

Cervantes attended Mercy Catholic High School, a school with a reputation of producing scholars, not athletes. Over the next four years, Cervantes established herself as the best pitcher and overall player on the team.

The Mercy Catholic High Warriors never were a softball powerhouse and most of her teammates were beginners who felt softball was just a hobby.

“In high school, everyone on the team hadn’t even played softball before,” Cervantes said.

But Cervantes decided to just work on getting better and do whatever she had to do to help her team.

“I just tried my hardest,” Cervantes said.

Her hard work paid off. By the time she graduated, she had racked up numerous awards. She managed to be named tri-county, all-city and all-league in the Mid-Valley League. During her senior year she went 9-1 with a 0.20 ERA, allowing just five hits all season long.

Despite offers from schools like Hawaii State and San Jose State, she choose to attend Sacramento State because she felt that Coach Kathy Strahan was a great coach and the environment was excellent.

At Sac State, she has developed into a supreme talent and a hard worker.

Last season, she had a record of 14-4 with a 1.82 ERA and over 200 strikeouts.

“I don’t read stats. I don’t need to,” Cervantes said, “I just go out and play.”

Her parents are her biggest fans, Cervantes said. They always make sure to attend every one of their daughter’s games, even when the team is playing on the road. Despite her numbers and the fact that she did this as a freshman, she still acknowledges that she has weaknesses.

She is quick to acknowledge that last season, she walked too many players, at least four batters in 16 of 21 starts.

“I know I have to step my game up,” Cervantes said.

This season, Cervantes is looking to build upon last season. Along with her problems with walks, she would like to improve her confidence.

“I want the team to have faith in me,” said Cervantes.

Her teammates seem to believe that once she gets that killer instinct that the “superstar” players are supposed to have, she will have no limits.

“She doesn’t know how good she is,” said catcher Jaime Schloredt.

Last season, the Hornets finished 35-20 and this season, they have a lot of expectations.

They were picked to win the conference in the preseason polls and Cervantes said she is confident about her team, despite the team’s 4-9 record.

“We could go as far as you could go,” she said. “We could go to the World Series.” Lamont Weaver can be reached at [email protected]