Janelle Lopez fell in love with softball a long time ago, and Colorado a short while ago.
The two will intertwine next year as the senior Cedar Park softball player verbally committed to play for the University of Northern Colorado next season, one of two Division I softball schools in Colorado.
Lopez played for the Austin Storm this summer after helping lead the Lady T’Wolves deep into the postseason, and she kept at it – working on the fields on the phones – to get a spot.
“I’ve always wanted to play college softball, and it’s been my passion since I was 4,” Lopez said. “I was pretty shocked by it and couldn’t believe I was going to a DI school. I didn’t care if it was DII, DII all the way down, I just wanted to play.”
Her family is planning a move to Colorado this year when Lopez graduates, , so she started looking for places in that area. Her father, Paul, and mother, Madeline, lived in Denver before moving to this area, and are headed back along with Janelle’s brother, Josh.
“Once I came up to Colorado for the first time, I said ‘this is going to be my future home,’” Janelle said. “It’s so beautiful up there. Now I got the load off my back of getting organized about college, I’m real happy about that.”
The Lady Timberwolf first baseman will likely stay at her favorite position in college, while playing some designated hitter. There’s a chance she could play immediately as North Colorado (located in Greeley) is rebuilding under a new coach, and Lopez could earn her way into more scholarships in a season or two.
“Stud pitchers usually get a full ride, but most players get only about 25 percent,” Paul Lopez said. “When she got the offer, we all kind of looked at each other and said, ‘Oh, wow!’ This is what you work for the whole time, playing select teams and why you do all the traveling. It’s about the lessons.”
North Colorado’s coach Mark Montgomery watched Lopez play at a tournament in Houston this summer while she was with the Storm. She hit .434 with a .552 on base percentage and .679 slugging percentage this summer.
“He decided he wanted her and said, ‘you got a roster spot if you want it; if you think you can play DI – I think you can,’” Paul said.
Janelle added, “After just talking to coach, I thought this guy really wants me, I can’t believe it. It took a long time to believe I am going to DI school in Colorado, I was over-shocked, and then overjoyed.”