HANFORD -- Four softball players from Hanford High have discovered that hard work on the softball diamond can pay big dividends -- and sometimes when it's least expected. Jaclyn Dias, Stephanie Holiday, Kelsi Maris and Jasmine Silva have recently been selected to play in the Club USA National High School Girls Softball Championship Tournament, which is scheduled for Dec. 28-Jan. 5 on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

The tournament will include 36 teams, representing most of the states. The Hanford players will play on one of two California teams, though not necessarily the same squad.

"It's kind of scary,'' said Dias, the Hanford junior-to-be who's known as "J.D.'' "But it'll be good to meet new people and see how they play.''

Most of all, it'll be an opportunity for the players to display their talents in front of college coaches.

The Hanford players -- none of whom have been to Hawaii -- didn't figure on going to the islands any time soon.

They were playing at a recent tournament with Hanford High's summer team in Clovis, when their performances prompted an official from Spokane, Wash.-based Club USA to offer them spots for the Hawaii trip.

Hanford coach Donnie Fagundes had no idea that was coming.

"I had nothing to do with it,'' he said.

Holiday and Maris were picked as utility players, Silva as a shortstop and Dias as a catcher.

Silva called it a "really big surprise,'' as well as a great opportunity, echoing the thoughts of her teammates. She also plays volleyball and basketball, but softball is her sport, and moving to the next level in softball is a big priority; and she wants to gain every advantage she can.

"I really want to play in college,'' she said. "Hopefully, I'll be able to get a scholarship.''

Indeed, all four girls have been into softball for quite some time -- Silva since she was six, Holiday and Maris since they were seven, and Dias since she was nine.

"My dad got me into playing tee ball, and I loved it,'' said Holiday, who'll be entering her senior year. "I just really got into it, and I kept playing.''

And she wants to keep doing so after high school, as do Silva and Dias.

Fagundes describes the three players as quiet.

"It's good, because that way you know they're listening,'' Fagundes said.

The easygoing Maris, the Bullpups' ace pitcher, has plenty more on her plate than softball -- literally. She's interested in entering the culinary field, as well as playing the guitar.

In fact, she said her goal is to work as a chef in Las Vegas -- a spot once frequented by one of her favorite recording artists, Elvis Presley. Another favorite of hers is Motley Crue.

"I'm the team rocker,'' she quipped.

But the senior isn't ruling out doing a bit of rocking and rolling on the softball diamond in college.

"Maybe if there's a good offer, I won't go to culinary school,'' she said with a chuckle.

Fagundes is proud that four players from his team were selected.

"There were 13 girls picked [at Clovis],'' he said, "and four of them are from our school,'' he said.

Holiday and Maris are developing into leaders as they inch closer to their senior seasons in high school, the coach said; and Dias and Silva, he added, are hard-nosed performers.

"J.D.'s a gamer,'' Fagundes said. "She works hard all the time. Jasmine's the same way as J.D. When we run sprints, she's always up there in front.''

Fagundes said some money has already been raised to help the girls fund their trip, but added that other fundraisers are planned.

(June 25, 2008)