Van Buren senior Jocelyn Parga continues to learn life lessons playing softball

Van Buren’s Jocelyn Parga developed a love of softball actually through another sport – baseball. Parga is in her final season with the Lady Pointers, playing center field. She has been on the varsity all four years in high school.

“As a younger kid, I’ve always grown up with softball,” Parga said. “My family and l are huge (Los Angeles) Dodger fans and since I was shown the sport, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. Softball comes with so many lessons as you go and teaches you so much about life and not just the sport itself and that’s what I think is so great about the sport.”

Van Buren has won more than it has lost in Parga’s senior year. As of April 23, the Lady Pointers stood in third place in the 5A-West Conference with a 6-3 record, and Parga has helped do her part to make them competitive.

“Senior year has been nothing but a blessing for me,” Parga said. “I’ve learned so many things, so many lessons that I will forever carry with me. Playing with these girls I call my sisters make it 10 times better. Coming to practice, I’m always looking forward to it because I know I will get a good laugh in, and although we’ve had bumps through the season, we know we can rely on each other to overcome whatever obstacles are thrown at us.”

And being a senior, Parga knew she had to provide strong leadership.

“Coming in as a senior, I knew I had to step up verbally for my teammates,” she said. “For the past three years, I was always the listener and it’s had to change for my senior year which has taken effect. There were many times where I had to give my teammates talks and just be straightforward with them, good or bad.”

In addition, it was important for Parga to be there for her younger teammates because she is one of only two seniors on Van Buren’s roster, with Ivey Perkins the other senior. Parga has been just as grateful of the time she has spent with her coach, Andy Williams.

“Playing softball for Van Buren will always be one of my favorite memories, it allowed me to be a better person and make so many friends that I refer to as my sisters,” Parga said. “Playing for Coach Williams has been great; he has always believed in me and I am so appreciative of that.”

Parga also looks back on the fun times she has spent with the Lady Pointers. One particular memory stemmed from her sophomore year two seasons ago.

“It would have to be from 2023, my sophomore year, when we went to state, staying three nights at a hotel and just bonding with all the girls telling stories, playing games, feasting over all the snacks we brought, staying up, enjoying the wins and just being surrounded by people I love,” she said.

That epitomizes Parga’s enjoyment and love of softball.

But thse softball days are soon to come to an end. Parga doesn’t plan on continuing her softball career once she graduates from Van Buren, but is ready for her next step, as Parga – who has a 3.5 grade-point average – will attend the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith and study to become a registered nurse.

So in these final days playing the sport she’s always loved, Parga is doing what she can to savor those moments.

“My mindset for my final days of playing for Van Buren softball is to enjoy every moment and cherish every moment I have with the girls and coaches, and to just be there for my girls whenever they need me,” Parga said.