Citrus sophomore outfielder Jade Nua was awarded the Female Athlete of the Month for February, the California Community College Athletic Association announced on April 6.
Nua posted a batting average of .655, racked up a total of 27 RBIs, and led the state with eight home runs in February.
Towards the end of the month, Nua went 4-for-4 in home runs in a doubleheader sweep against Bakersfield College. Nua is the fifth Citrus student-athlete in history to win the award.
Nua, who is ranked third in the state with 15 home runs and second in the state with a .621 batting average, said those numbers are not her focus when it comes to playing.
“I don’t even look at my batting averages,” Nua said. “I just go out and play hard. If it happens, it happens.”
As the softball team wrapped up their regular season on April 25, the Owls are preparing to head off into playoffs.
Citrus had a six-game winning streak, including a 16-0 win on April 20 over Los Angeles Valley College, heading into the final doubleheader of the season.
With bases loaded multiple times in the bottom of the fourth, the Owls scored nine runs, coming from Seanna Jimenez, Valerie Ortiz, Jade Nua, Karissa Martinez, Molly Montel, Celine Spathias, Mia Escobar and Dani Dominguez.
Citrus head coach Jackie Boxley said her team got the win partly because of the break.
“It’s spring break and they wanted to get it done,” Boxley said. “A little bit of it was motivated by spring break.”
Nua has made a huge contribution in leading the Owls to success with the high stats she has posted this season. The outfielder has been hit by a pitch 11 times this season due to the opposing teams knowing how strong of a hitter she is.
Nua said it was nice to get some hitting action during the Owls’ last home game of the season and of her career against the Los Angeles Valley College Cougars.
“It felt good,” Nua said. “They actually pitched.”
Nua, one of three sophomores on the team, said it was bittersweet for her and her teammates to go out and win, knowing this would be her last game on the diamond at Citrus.
“It was really emotional for everyone,” Nua said. “We played hard.”
With Nua, Martinez and Spathias leaving Citrus this year, Boxley said she is going to miss the three sophomores.
“I love them and I’m gonna miss them so much,” Boxley said. “Those are three great sophomores and I’m gonna miss them.”
The Owls, who are ranked 12th in the state and second in the Western State-East Conference will find out on April 29 when and where they will begin playoffs.
