As part of the Alliance Fastpitch Player Recognition Program, we are excited to honor Pacific Coast Fastpitch League (PCFL) catcher, Jocelyn Erickson of OC Batbusters Stith as the National Player of the Month for her performance in July.

The AFCS national champion showed out this July during the Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series. Erickson was named to the AFCS 18U Tier I All-Tournament Team as the most outstanding player and also made AFCS history by earning the first ever Triple Crown Award. Erickson led the AFCS in batting average with .676, 5 home runs and 30 RBIs.

Softball Story (How did you get started?  Tell us about you-
Two of my older sisters played softball before me so I followed in their footsteps. I began playing club when I was 8 years old and started getting recruited by college coaches when I was 12. I verbally committed to the University of Oklahoma in 8th grade. I then had a major decision to make about switching club teams. I am from Arizona so I was looking for a team that would push me to be the best version of myself as a player and person. That led my family and I to traveling over to California to play for the Batbusters. I played for so many great coaches and with amazing teammates for years. Then in my Junior year of high school things changed. I played high school basketball and in the beginning of my junior season I tore my ACL and both my inner and outer meniscus. I was out for a year rehabbing and building back my strength. It was the toughest year of my life mentally and physically. So many emotions came from this injury because all I wanted to do was play. It was a huge learning experience for me and I’m glad I went through it because it helped me see things from a different perspective. I met some of the coolest people I know through physical therapy and made a lot fun memories. In the end, all that training and hard work paid off. In my comeback year I couldn’t wait to get out on the field again and compete. The training I had gone through had prepared me for high school ball and summer travel ball. My senior year was one of the greatest years of my life and that’s a testament to the emotional rollercoaster that life is. I’m very thankful for my softball journey and everyone who has been a part of it and I can’t wait to continue making memories at Oklahoma.

Favorite Softball memory-

My favorite softball memory came just this past month when my team won the Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series 18U Tier I. We had been working so hard all year for this moment and we made our dreams a reality. All any senior wants to do is finish off their career strong and that’s what my team helped me and the other 8 seniors do. My team fought and grinded until the very last pitch. Once we got into the elite 8 we lost a game later the next day. We had to fight our way through the loser’s bracket and beat a good team twice in a row. My team battled and we played for each other. We made it into the championship series and took the first two games. The last pitch and dog pile was the best feeling in the world. I wish I could rewind time and live in that moment again. I’m forever thankful to my teammates and coaches for such an amazing journey we’ve been on together.

What is the Alliance Fastpitch Player Recognition Program?
The Player Recognition Program was built to recognize and spotlight our individual players in each Member League. Each month, registered Alliance Fastpitch coaches can nominate a player from their age division. League Leadership will review nominations and a monthly stats report from AthletesGoLive (AGL) to determine the League’s Player of the Month.

Following the announcement of each League’s Players of the Month, the Alliance Fastpitch will recognize a National Player of the Month.

To be considered for Player of the Month, your team must score League games in AGL so your stats will be included in the League’s monthly report.