Lis Homers and Shines in Summer Action with TC Colorado Against the Rise
Jackie Lis Continues Summer Growth with TC Colorado
What better way to enhance your craft in the summer and size your game up than against professional talent? That is exactly what Jackie Lis is doing right now as she competes with TC Colorado.
Lis, the former Southern Illinois Saluki turned Texas Tech Red Raider, had a great showing today against the New York Rise in Loveland, Colorado.
Big Day at the Plate
Following the game, I had the opportunity to speak with Jackie Lis, who was kind enough to answer a few questions. She finished the day 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs, and one run scored.
I asked her how it felt to play the way she and the team did today against the Rise.
“I think the game today was definitely a great start for the team. We are still getting into a groove as a team and some of us are still adjusting to seeing live pitching again, so for us to go out and play well against a professional team that has been playing was a good confidence boost.”
Today certainly brought that boost, and Lis led the way with her bat.
Power and Poise
In the top of the second inning, Lis opened the scoring with a solo shot off Chenise Delce to give TC Colorado a 1-0 lead. Her second hit came in the third, an RBI single to stretch the lead to 4-1.
Lis looked both confident and comfortable in the box. Nothing seemed to shake her focus, and her approach was clear.
“Personally for me, my plan was just to find pitches I could drive back up the middle. When we played yesterday I was having trouble with that, so today I was just planning on finding pitches I could get the top half of.”
Her ability to adjust from one day to the next is a part of what has made her successful throughout her career. In the game of softball, you don’t have time to work on things for days. You have to be able to reset and go, pretty much on the fly.
Strong Foundation from SIU
Lis is excited to play for the Red Raiders, but she was also happy at SIU, and spoke well about her experiences there.
“My time at SIU was great. I got to know a lot of great people and still got a lot of opportunities.”
That strong foundation has helped her step confidently into each new challenge, and the next stop on her journey is Lubbock. As a rising senior, Lis wanted the chance to do some things.
Why Texas Tech
When asked what brought her to Texas Tech and what she’s hoping to find in her final collegiate season, Lis gave a thoughtful answer.
“For my last year, I really want to have a shot at a World Series, and I believed Texas Tech was the best fit for what I was looking for. I also played travel ball with Nija, so getting to play the field behind her was something I couldn’t pass up.”
Closing Thoughts
I said in an earlier article that I felt Lis might be the steal of the transfer portal. From what I saw today, that might be exactly right. Coach Gerry Glasco and the Red Raiders have something special in Jackie Lis, and we look forward to seeing how her final season unfolds in Lubbock.
She wants to have a shot at OKC before ending her college career, and whether you like the Red Raiders or not, I definitely believe the chance to accomplish that will be.
