FAIRBURY - Fairbury senior shortstop Jaelle Johnson will continue her softball career at the college level.

Johnson announced on Twitter Wednesday that she will play softball for the Omaha Mavericks, beginning in the fall of 2020.

A multi-sport athlete at Fairbury, Johnson had an outstanding senior season as she helped lead the Jeffs to their first ever state softball championship in 2019.

Johnson was second on the team in batting average (.500), hits (48), RBIs (53), home runs (8) and led the team with 11 doubles.

Her 53 RBIs were the second most among all Class C players this season, while her 48 hits were the fourth most and the eight home runs tied for fifth most.

Johnson was certainly critical in the Jeffs' win over Guardian Angels Central Catholic in the winner-take-all game on Oct. 18. After being walked in four consecutive at-bats, Johnson hit a single-shot home run to right field to tie the game at 4-4 in the top of the fourth inning.

In the seventh, Johnson was intentionally walked once more, and senior Raven DeFrain brought her home on an RBI single to deep right field. That wound up being the go-ahead run, as the Jeffs (28-5) outlasted the Bluejays, 6-5.

DeFrain, whose 63 RBIs in 2019 were one shy of tying a Class C single-season record, announced her commitment to Northwest Missouri State softball on Oct. 25.

Through the five games at the state tournament, Johnson was 8-of-14 with seven runs scored, two home runs, five RBIs and a double.

Johnson will join another southeast Nebraska softball star at UNO next fall. Crete senior outfielder Izzy Eltze committed to the Mavericks back in August.

Johnson's older brother, Jacob, is currently a sophomore at UNO as well.

Soon, Johnson will prepare for her senior season on the basketball court. In the 2018-19 campaign, she averaged 5.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and a team-best 3.3 steals per game as a junior.

Fairbury finished that season 10-12, but the Jeffs are poised to improve, as they return seven of their top eight scorers.

 

 

You can follow Tommy on Twitter @Tommy_NCN.