Athlete Spotlight: Jessica Masur, Senior, softball pitcher

by Andrew Garda

garda@montclairlocal.news

The Montclair High School softball team is in the middle of a three-game win streak. While hitting certainly has a lot to do with the recent success, so does the play of senior pitcher Jessica Masur.

Masur threw another good game on Tuesday in a 4-1 win over Newark Academy, and coach Valerie Tauriello has been really happy with Masur’s work overall.

“She’s been throwing the ball very well,” Tauriello said after the win. “I’m watching her pitch the last couple of games, and I’m seeing her ball move from the dugout. She’s been throwing the ball really well lately.”

Masur has felt good over the last three games and the good work at the plate by her teammates is a big part of the reason why.

“On the mound, knowing you have a good gap of runs between you and the other team helps a lot,” Masur said. “We’re still able to get it done without a lot of them, but it’s nice when everyone is hitting. It’s contagious and the dugout is up, like today. It’s just a good time.”

Masur, who will be playing softball and studying graphic design at Stevens Institute of Technology next year, took a moment after Tuesday’s game to chat with us and answer some questions:

What else do you like to do?  I like to do art — so I’m going to do graphic design at Stevens. I also like to hang out with my friends a lot. Go shopping.

Favorite subject in school? Physics, right now.

Favorite TV show? I watch a lot of Netflix. Right now I’m watching “Narcos.” It’s really good.

What is your favorite movie? I really like the Harry Potter series. It’s probably one of my favorite movies. And “Iron Man.”

Did you read the book series first or jump in with the movies? When I was younger I read a lot. When I was in fifth grade, I read up to book five. Then I took a break and I finished them in eighth grade. But I liked watching the movies throughout.

If you could choose anyone, which three people would you like to have dinner with? Probably Amelia Earhart, because I did a lot of reports on her when I was younger. Emma Watson and Michelle Obama.

Who in your life inspires you? My parents. But my dad has always been a soccer coach. So he’s always inspired me both with playing and coaching. Even though I don’t play soccer, I apply the same things and he always helps me out with sports.

What are you going to do after graduation? Over the summer I’m going to play [softball] and work. Hopefully I’ll get to travel. I’ll work at my dad’s camp for a lot of the time.

When did you fall in love with softball? I was in probably second grade and I didn’t like it that much. I didn’t pitch and I wasn’t very good. Then in fourth grade I decided not to play soccer, and I realized that if I didn’t play soccer, I would have to find another sport to do. So I decided on softball, and that’s when I started to pitch and get into it.