By Sara Biela (@sarabielaa ):
For redshirt freshman Maricela Matos, softball isn’t just a sport — it’s a way of life. The shortstop delivers her heart, soul, blood, sweat and tears to every play of every game.
The Hayward, Calif. native started tee-ball at 4 years old. Three years later, Matos picked up a softball and attached herself to something that would change her life forever.
“The love and passion comes from the heart. You can’t teach someone that — it comes from within,” said Matos. “Softball has brought so much light into my life. I am blessed to be able to play.”
When she was 9 years old, Matos’ love for competition grew beyond the diamond. She latched onto a new sport: basketball.
“Raising a softball and basketball daughter was very exciting,” said Susanna Matos, Maricela’s mother. “Attending games, cheering on the sidelines, being a part of wins and losses made it fun.”
Matos attended Newark Memorial High School in nearby Newark and played both sports for all four years.
In softball, she was a three-time First-Team All-Mission Valley Athletic League honoree, earning MVP of both her team and conference senior year.
“Maricela brought a lot of positive energy to our team,” said Rachel Kahoalii, Matos’ varsity softball coach at NMHS. “She is a true competitor who always stepped up in big moments.”
Matos was named a 2015 Mercury News Third-Team All-East Bay honoree and 2016 San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro softball First-Team selection in her last season.
Matos also earned All-MVAL honors in basketball for her last two years as Newark’s starting guard.
“Coaching Maricela was a true blessing for me,” Kahoalii said. “She is one of the special players that I can look back and say that she taught me as much as I taught her.”
The four-year letterwinner received offers for both sports, which included a softball scholarship to San Jose State. Matos had to make one of the hardest decisions of her life: softball or basketball.
When it came down to making a final commitment, Matos went with what she knew best and chose her first love.
“I chose softball over basketball because I knew I was better at it,” Matos said. “It was a hard decision.”
On Nov. 17, 2015, Matos signed her letter of intent with the Spartans.
“I was thrilled when Maricela received an SJSU scholarship,” Susanna said. “What made me happy was to see the joy on her face. The look of ‘I did it Mom, I did it!’”
It was hard to keep Matos — a dedicated and passionate player — off the field.
Spending the 2017 season as a redshirt, she found it difficult but productive.
“It was hard not to play last season,” Matos said. “I took that time to learn and prepare for this season.”
Susanna reminds her daughters on a daily basis that overcoming struggles and persevering each day will pay off.
“There is a recent saying I tell my three girls, ‘Each day is a gift, not a given right. Make the absolute best of every single day.’”
Those words came to life on Feb. 11 when Matos made her first career start as a Spartan against the University of Texas at El Paso. The shortstop went 1-for-2, with a walk and a run scored.
“I was ready, I felt excited and happy,” Matos said.
Through it all, Matos dedicates her game to the ones who matter most to her.
“I play for my family,” Matos said. “Without all their support, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”