Jasmine Mixco had no idea she was being evaluated as part of a process to select 360 players from across the nation—and just nine from the Northern California region—to play in the USA Softball All-American Games at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City from June 29 to July 1.
Mixco, who will be an eighth grader at Britton Middle School in the fall, was playing in an A-level qualifier tournament at the Salinas Sports Complex in April and did what she normally does in tournament action: pitch well, wreak havoc on the basepaths and help lead the San Martin-based NorCal Spirit Elite team to victory.
“I was shocked (when I found out I had been selected to play in the All-American Games),” she said. “I didn’t know they were watching me, so I just did what I usually do.”
A pitcher, shortstop and center fielder, Mixco affects the outcome of a game in a variety of ways. Spirit Elite coach Tiffany Lacomini said Mixco has a “.600 or .700 on-base percentage” for the season, and approximately 100 stolen bases in 43 games.
“At least that,” Lacomini said. “When Jasmine gets on base, there’s a good chance she’s going to score because of her speed. She’s a phenomenal athlete, super fast and extremely powerful. When Jasmine contacted me that she had made the team, I wasn’t surprised at all.”
The left-handed Mixco said she likes to use her fastball—which has a natural curve to it—early and often. Mixco estimates that she can pump her pitches up to 50 mph, but even with her proficiency in the circle, Mixco said her favorite position is shortstop.
“I like it because most of the girls hit it over to shortstop,” she said. “I love the sport because there is a lot of action and I like being aggressive out there.”
Although the Spirit Elite team is classified as a B-level/recreation team, the organization along with the parents decided in the spring to play a more competitive travel ball schedule, often times against A-level clubs. The Spirit Elite have more than held their own, racking up around 30 to 32 wins in 43 games.
Victor Mixco, who is the father of Jasmine, said the team’s upcoming tournament schedule—in Lake Tahoe and then the big NorCal Championships in Twin Creeks, a Western Nationals qualifier—should be a great experience and barometer for the program. Jasmine Mixco started playing softball at 5, and it was no coincidence. Jasmine’s mom, Jamie, played softball in high school and at West Valley College.
“Jasmine didn’t have a choice,” Victor said jokingly. “As soon as we were able to, we signed her up to play.”
Jasmine said she loves the sport and has a strong desire to improve, even having a goal to play for a Division I program later on down the line. She’ll get a taste of what it’s like to play in a Division I stadium at the All-American Games.
“It’s going to be really exciting to play there,” she said. “I can’t wait.”
The multi-talented Mixco, who recently pitched her first-ever perfect game at a tournament in Scotts Valley, has another love besides softball: painting and drawing. Mixco said she likes to draw celebrities, although she doesn’t particularly follow them with any regularity. Mixco said she earned second place at an art show in the Morgan Hill Community Center last year.
On the softball field, Mixco does a nice job of creating her own masterpiece.
