Senior Ashley Lagrosa has played two sports in her four years at Pascack Valley, but her final season is where she finally got to show that she belonged. 

“When they say hard work pays off, I used to not believe in that because it never happened to me,” Lagrosa said. “Then this year it has with all the work I put into hitting.”

Lagrosa played varsity basketball and softball over her past four years. However, she has never started a game for either sport in those four years until her last softball season, where she seized the opportunity. 

Lagrosa started at second base for the Indians, and hit in the heart of the lineup, whether that be at the 3, 4, or 5 spot all season.

“It was definitely a lot of pressure in the beginning, but then I just found my place and I was able to relax and just perform the way I know how to,” said Lagrosa. 

The starting second baseman really hit her stride in mid April, starting on April 14th, when she had three hits, a homerun, and tallied up four RBIs for PV. Six days later, she followed that up with a walk-off single in extra innings. 

Lagrosa’s motivation this season has stemmed from her grandmother, who tragically passed this year due to cancer.

“Before every game I have this saint that my grandmother gave me, and I keep it in my back pocket and before every game I say a quick prayer,” said Lagrosa of her inspiration. 

A mindset that the softball star has carried with her in all eight seasons, is the aspect of the team. For Lagrosa, the team always comes first. Even in all of her success over the past season, she has not changed that mindset at all.

“A lot of people think that softball is an individual sport, but it’s not. It’s a sport where we all take our individual talents and bring them together as one,” she said.

This was her last season at PV, and as determined as she was to play the best she can, Lagrosa was also focused on having fun and enjoying her last season.

“[One goal is] definitely to have fun, because this may be my last softball season ever, and it’s a sport that I have always loved. I want to be able to look back 20 or 30 years from now and say that was one hell of a season,” she said.