As reported on Sunday by James Crepea of The Oregonian/OregonLive, Jasmine Sievers, Oregon sophomore shortstop Jasmine Sievers will miss the upcoming college season–assuming it’s played despite increasing COVID-19 numbers–because she has announced she’s three months pregnant.
In his article titled Oregon softball shortstop Jasmine Sievers announces pregnancy, opts out of 2020-21 season the journalists writes:
“Sievers, who hit .231 with nine runs scored, a home run and 16 RBIs in 24 games last season, made the announcement via social media Sunday night.
“I did not quit softball,” Sievers said in a YouTube video. “I’m just opting out of the season because I got that opportunity to make that decision because of COVID and everything going on. I still have my scholarship; I’m still part of Oregon softball I just will not be participating in the 2020-2021 year.”
According to Crepea’s article: “Spring sports college athletes had a year of eligibility restored this spring in light of the cancellation of the 2020 seasons and championships. The NCAA has paused the eligibility clocks for fall and winter sport athletes in 2020-21, but has not yet addressed if it’ll do so for spring as well. If not, Sievers would likely redshirt in the spring of 2021 and return UO softball as a fourth-year sophomore in 2021-22.”
“The only other players to start at shortstop the past two seasons for Oregon are Allee Bunker and Rachel Cid, who are the everyday second and third baseman, respectively.”
As a freshman, Sievers earned 1st Team All-Pac-12, Pac-12 All-Defensive Team and Pac-12 All-Freshman Team honors (2019).
She’s also played for Team USA and in the 2019 WBSC U-19 Women’s Softball World Cup, hit .429 (12-for-28) with a home run, 7 RBI and 11 runs scored for the Gold-medal winning American Team which beat Japan last fall.
WALK OFF USA! WALK OFF USA!
Jasmine Sievers (@OregonSB) drives in Charla Echols (@GatorsSB) and the @USASoftball U19 Women's National Team are U19 World Champions! 🇺🇸#NCAASoftball #U19SoftballWC
(via @WBSCsoftball)pic.twitter.com/k3WVJ6YRkr— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) August 17, 2019
Sievers played for the California Cruisers coached by her grandfather, Mel Sievers, and father, Jay. She was a Top 15 honoree in the 2018 Extra Elite 100 and in May of 2018 we wrote of the athletic infielder:
“… she is one of the best defensive players in the country and for her Capistrano Valley (California) High has earned 1st Team All-Orange County offers as she is a weapon on offense too as a leadoff hitter who batted .486 with 17 steals as a junior. Says (at the time) Mike White, Head Coach of Oregon: “Jasmine could be one of the best shortstops to ever play at Oregon. She has fantastic range and a cannon arm. She has good speed and will be a solid hitter as well.”
