SANTA BARBARA, Calif – The red seams of a softball have always been a part of Jazzy Santos' identity since she was just seven years old. What started as a family influence became her own passion. 
 
"I grew up in a big baseball family," she said. "My brothers played sports, and I was kind of pushed into this at an early age". 
 
Now, fast-forward to 2026, as a starting senior second baseman for UC Santa Barbara, she is focused on finishing her own legacy the right way. 
 

From Finding Her Footing to Leading the Team 

Starting thirty-seven games her freshman season in 2023, it was all about adjustment. She leaned on veteran teammates to steady her nerves coming into the program. 
 
"It was very uncomfortable and uneasy for freshmen coming in. But I had really good teammates that had my back and gave me the confidence to perform." 
 
By her junior season in 2025, she was starting all sixty-two games. The big difference was not just experience — it was the confidence she worked hard for. And in 2026, her confidence has shifted to full-time leadership. 
 
"My biggest focus is just to go out with a bang, have fun, and not let the results get to me. We have a new young staff, and just making sure that I'm being a great leader and a good role model is really important to me this year." 
 
She credits former Gaucho standout Maddie McNally, who guided her to understand what true sportsmanship and leadership look like at the collegiate level. 
 
"She really set the standard. When she was leaving, she told me, I'm passing it on to you. "You got this." 

Fun Moments That Proved She's Exactly Where She Belongs 

Let's set the scene: With the Gauchos down by a couple of runs in their 2025 NCAA Tournament elimination matchup against the San Diego State Aztecs at the Los Angeles Regionals. 
 
No thoughts of heroics. No swing for the fences mentality. 
 
Santos stepped into the box. 
 
"I was just trying to get a good pitch to hit up the middle. You don't think of a home run at that moment, but the ball just goes out." 
 
And it did. 
 
What began as a disciplined at-bat turned into the most important swings of her career — a blast that drove in three RBIs (runs-batted-in) and kept the Gauchos alive in the regional. 
 
While offensive highlights traditionally make headlines, she takes equal pride in her defense at second base. Playing under a former second baseman, Head Coach Jo Evans, the team is firmly rooted in the belief that defense wins championships. 
 
"When the ball is hit to me, I'm going to get an out and back up my pitcher. You're not thinking about making an error. You're just playing loose and having fun." 
 
This play-loose, have-fun mindset helped her earn multiple All-Big West Honorable Mentions, though recognition is not what drives her completely. 
 
"If the accolades come, that's great. But they don't define me. My primary focus is just to have fun. The results will follow." 

The Mental Side of Being in The Batters' Box

The hardest reality of Division I softball doesn't always show up in the box score. 
 
"Hitting is very mental. When you're not performing, it can be really hard. People don't see the work you're putting in behind the scenes." 
 
The art of softball is learning to overcome failure and play in big, tough moments, which has been one of Santos' proudest areas of growth. 
 
Here is her technique. 
 
Before each of her at-bats, she completely grounds herself with a simple routine: finding the top of a flag, posted in the outfield as a strong focal point, taking deep breaths, and focusing on the logo on her bat while tapping the ground twice before stepping into the box. 

Legacy She Leaves at Campus Diamond  

As Santos nears the end of her career at UC Santa Barbara, she hopes her long-lasting impact extends beyond titles, awards, and the lengthy stats book. 
 
"Not forgetting who we are and the legacy we've brought to this program," she says while smiling. "Having fun and winning, that's all I want people to remember." 
 
For a player who was raised in a baseball family and found her absolute love for the game at just seven years old, her legacy at Santa Barbara feels fitting. She was not just an infielder for the Gauchos — she grew into a leader who openly embraced the mental grind and cemented why she fell in love with softball at such a young age.