Manteca junior Calderon steps into starring role
By RAUL FIGUEROA
The Tower
Manteca catcher Na’ima Calderon tags out Oakdale’s Jayci Volonte at the plate for the second out in the top of the third inning Friday (photo contributed by SEAN KAHLER)
Since the age of 4 Na’ima Calderon has involved her life with the sport of softball.
A rising junior in a stacked Manteca softball team she has been on varsity all four years.
Softball isn’t an easy sport; it takes preparation, grit, and hustle to be on top of the game, and Na’ima strives to apply all three of these traits.
As of right now, Na’ima is batting a .439 contributing 28 RBI’s and 3 Homeruns leading 2nd in her team for batting average and 2nd in on base percentage with a .515
Fellow teammate Malaya Garza states “Na'ima personality is one of her biggest traits she's someone you go to for extra help or to get motivation from.”
The tower caught up with Na’ima to learn more about her motivation and what to come for the following year.
The Tower: Tell us a little about yourself.
Na’ima Calderon: My name is Na’ima Calderon I'm a junior on the Manteca softball team and this is my third year of varsity.
TT: What got you into softball.
NC: I started playing when I was 4, my mom put me and my sisters in tee ball, and I loved the game so much I continued to play.
TT: How have you’ve improved since your sophomore year.
NC: My sophomore year was definitely better than my freshman year; this is when I started to get more comfortable and really started to produce and make an impact on my team.
TT: How have you impacted your team so far.
NC: I would say I’ve been having a good year at the plate and started off the season hot and even got my first high school homerun against Atwater, which was pretty cool. Even on defense with our first baseman down, I stepped up and have been holding it down there too.
TT: What's your motivation to keep pushing forward.
NC: My motivation this season is my sister Ava mostly and my mom because they’re so far and this is the first time my mom has had to miss so much due to my family situation right now, I just want to make her proud because I know she really wants to be there.
TT: What are you looking forward to your senior year.
NC: My senior year I’m looking forward to really ending my career with a bang, taking control of the team and making it my best.
TT: How has the team been so far.
NC: This year the team has been the best group of girls it's such a happy environment, no drama, we all have one goal and are trying to make it last as long as we can.