ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Jessica Gore

The East County Observer and Bogey’s Restaurant and Sports Pub have teamed up to showcase the East County’s top athletes. Each recipient’s article will be featured on the restaurant’s wall.

Braden River High senior Jessica Gore went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and a run scored, propelling the Lady Pirates to a 7-1 victory over Venice March 17. Gore has been instrumental in leading Braden River to a 12-3 record this season.

Here is an inside look at this week’s Athlete of the Week.

How did you get into playing softball?
A long time ago, I was with my grandparents, and my grandma told me about tryouts for Miss Sarasota Softball. I was always an athletic kid, so I decided to try it. I just love playing softball, and I haven’t stopped.

What do you enjoy the most about softball?
The intensity of the game. The rivalries are a lot of fun too. A lot of my friends play, so it’s a lot of fun playing against girls I’ve grown up with.

What are your plans for Spring Break?
I’m going on a cruise to Belize, Grand Cayman, Rhoatan and Cozumel. It’s the first cruise I’ve ever been on, and it’s my graduation cruise, so I’m going with my whole family and my best friend, Huntyre Elling.

What’s your favorite food?
My mom and my grandparents are Italian, so pretty much everything they make is great, but I would have to say it’s a tie between my mom’s tuna noodle casserole and my grandma’s spaghetti.

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be and why?
Australia to see the Great Barrier Reef. I hear that because of global warming it’s almost disappearing, so I would like to see it before that happens.

What are your plans for next year?
I have two choices. I’m waiting to hear from the Naval Academy, but I also have a full ride to Jacksonville University. If I go there I’m going to try and walk on to the softball team and try and do NROTC.