Late last month, eight Pioneer High School student-athletes committed to continuing their athletic careers at the next level during the school’s annual signing night.

On the boys’ side, football player Diego Preciado signed on for American River College, while the baseball duo of Drew Van Court and Jack Selfridge signed on for Pepperdine University and Butte College, respectively.

Girls who signed on the night were the softball quartet of Jia Beebe, who signed on for Sacramento City College, Ashley Gruben, who signed on to play for Southwest Baptist University, Sofia Hernandez, who signed on for Cornell University, and Abril Parker, who signed on for UC Davis. Swimmer Josephine Brant signed on for Texas Christian University.

Earlier this year, during the Sac-Joaquin Section finals held on May 8 and 9, Brant qualified for the CIF State Swim Meet in the 50 and 100 freestyles in second and third places with times of 23.22 and 50.99, respectively.

She then wrapped up her senior year in the pool, earning a 7th-place finish at the CIF State Swim Meet at the Clovis Olympic Swim Complex held on May 16 and 17.

“Jojo had an amazing season as always,” Pioneer swimming coach Mary Park said. “She was definitely our high point winner for the season, as she has been for the past four years. Our swimmers were always proud to be swimming alongside her and to call her their teammate. She will be missed!”

Brant finished her high school career as a three-time All-League selection, a three-time League MVP, and a four-time CIF State qualifier and medalist.

“I have no doubt that she will excel at the college level,” Park said. “She is one of the hardest workers I know and is dedicated to swimming. Eat. Sleep. Swim. That personifies Jojo, but she also has this amazing ability to perform well academically and still have a social life. She has trained herself well not only in the water but also for college life!

“We are all wishing Jojo the best and are grateful that she has shared her talent with PHS these past few years. And as I always tell my swimmers, “No matter what life throws at you, just keep swimming!”

On the softball field, the quartet of four-year varsity starters, including Beebe, Gruben, Hernandez and Parker, helped lead the Patriots to a 23-6 overall record and a three-way share of the Monticello Empire League in the team’s first season in the new league.

For such a strong season, the Patriots were rewarded with the No. 2 overall seed in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section D4 playoffs. In the first round, they defeated the No. 15-seeded Del Campo before taking out No. 7 seed Beyer in the quarters and No. 6 seed East Union in the semis.

Their season ultimately came to an end in the D4 title game, where they lost 4-0 to Destiny Christian Academy.

As the team’s ace for the past four years, Beebe racked up a cumulative 2.05 ERA, going 65-21 in her 101 appearances. She saved her best season for last, as she had career bests in innings (188.2), ERA (1.48), appearances (29), wins (23) and strikeouts (140).

According to a note read during the signing night, Beebe hopes to pursue nursing. Duirng her time at Pioneer, she earned numerous accolades, including Academic All-League and All-League awards, and was named defensive MVP of the league.

“It was a pleasure to have her in the circle all four years,” Pioneer softball coach Linda Merrida said. “A very durable young lady, very coachable, and a hard worker. She doesn’t allow negative things to affect her when she is out there in the circle.

“She has also been our No. 2 batter the past few years and has proven her ability to execute sacrifice bunts and can hit with some pop when it’s not so expected. She was very, very close a couple of times to getting a home run. When she shows her power, you get excited.”

Merrida mentions that while Beebe may not blow her opponents away with sheer velocity or strikeout stuff, she can locate with the best of them, keeps batters off balance with different speeds and fields her position exceptionally well.

“She will be such a variable addition to whatever they have on the pitching staff there,” Merrida said. “She will probably have to step up on her speed, but she can throw batters off with different speeds. She also plays great defense, and she’s really quick. She knows where to throw the ball, and that helps any pitcher when you can field your position and make plays you are not expected to make.”

Catching for Beebe for most of her time at Pioneer was Gruben. Gruben earned Academic All-League honors all four years for softball and twice for water polo. As a freshman and junior, she earned All-League honors and even won the defensive league MVP award her junior season.

“She volunteered to take over as catcher her sophomore year because she was eager to play a different position and help her team out,” Merrida said. “Her travel ball experience helped her out so much. When things go wrong for Jia, Ashley is there to help her through it. It was unfortunate that she was unable to finish this year due to injury. She was having her best year, and her bat was sorely missed during the critical times of the playoffs. She was a complete team player, helping the backup catchers. We called her the pitching coach as she called the pitches.”

Despite having her senior season cut short due to injury, only playing in 14 games, Gruben still managed to put up a .436 batting average to go with her 17 hits, 3 doubles, 2 home runs and 11 RBI.

“She was likely recruited as a catcher,” Merrida continued. “But she can also play first base as her glove is excellent there. She’ll find some time behind the dish, and like any freshman, you are going to have to earn your spot, and I think she will when she’s given the chance to show her skills.”

At the hot corner was Hernandez, who played great defense at third base while also providing the accompanying power at the plate.

She built up an impressive resume during her four years at the varsity level. As a freshman, she earned an honorable mention award before earning GEL first team All-League selections as a sophomore and junior. Her junior season, she was also the GEL co-MVP.

“She is a quiet leader out there, but she has a big bat and stellar glove at third base,” Merrida said. “When that bat gets in the zone, the ball is gone. It’s going to be fun to see her play there (Cornell). I think she will add some pop to their lineup. I hope she will be able to play third base there, but I know she can also play second base. All the incoming freshmen will have to see what they have to battle against.”

This season, Hernandez finished second on the team in batting average (.443), runs (29), hits (39), RBI (27), and home runs (6) with 4 doubles. She earned a first-team MEL All-League award.

Fielding everything that somehow managed to be hit hard enough was the rangy Parker, who lit up center field with her glove. Parker earned Academic All-League honors all four seasons and was named to the GEL All-League team her sophomore and junior seasons.

This year, Parker finished fifth on the team in multiple categories, including batting average (.386), hits (27), runs (15), RBI (14), and was second in doubles with 7.

“If we could somehow have three Abrils out on the field, no ball would ever drop,” Merrida said. “Even during batting practice, she’d utilize that stage to practice catching balls. It really forced her teammates to keep up with her. She had some great throwouts as she also has a great arm. Her strength will be reading and reacting, and then making a strong throw to whatever base she needs to make.”

At UC Davis, Parker will be close enough for family and friends to follow her games.

“All teams always have a lot of outfielders and infielders, and I think it will take her a bit to man that big college field,” Merrida said. “It’s a big field out there, but I think she can adjust to any field condition and do really well defensively for the Aggies. It’s great that she will stay so close; her friends and family can go and watch.”