Hi, I am Jackie Alday, I just finished my second season on the UC Riverside softball team. After my first year, I was named to the Big West All-Freshman Team, and I have been the starting catcher for the past two years. I am from Concord and have lived here my entire life. I have been playing softball since age 4 and fell in love with the sport after watching my older sister and brother.  We grew up watching baseball on TV so it was only natural that we play it ourselves.

 I attended Clayton Valley Charter High School where I was a starter all 4 years on varsity in both basketball and softball. I earned all-league honors my senior year. Catching is a vital position in softball. The catcher is involved in every pitch and has to have thorough knowledge of the game.  It's not just catching the ball from the pitcher; it's really an art, framing a close pitch so that it gets called a strike.I'd like to help the next generation of softball players fall in love with the sport the same way that I did.  

Being a catcher to me is something I take very seriously and thoroughly love playing this position. I took after my brother who was also a catcher and I instantly fell in love with it. Being a catcher is being a leader and allowing our pitchers to shine. This is an incredible opportunity and I am so excited to get to work.