Season Interrupted: Palm Desert’s Jasmine Perezchica can take the heat

Throughout the spring, The Times will interview high school seniors whose athletic careers were cut short by the coronavirus outbreak.

Name: Jasmine Perezchica

School: Palm Desert

Sport: Softball, shortstop

Key stats: Reigning league MVP had a .659 batting average

Fall plans: Will attend Arizona

On sports being canceled:

“My teammates and I were pretty disappointed. At this point, it’s really about making sure we’re healthy and safe.�

On becoming a top softball recruit:

“Really, it’s about working hard and putting in 100% effort. I really live and breathe softball. If you have the dedication to pursue that dream, then I say go for it.�

On her father, Tony, the third base coach with the Arizona Diamondbacks:

“I’m very grateful to have him around. He’s taught me pretty much everything I know since I was little. I don’t know what I’d do without him.�

On life without sports:

“It’s very slow. We went from 100% constant go, go, go all the time to nothing at all. It’s very different and something to adapt to.�

On training in the desert:

“It’s like 105 degrees right now. It’s pretty hot. I usually wake up early, go out running and make sure we do things early or late.�

On the lessons she’s learned:

“I learned never take anything for granted but also pursue everything you can. You never know because it might be taken away from you the next day.�

What are her hitting tips:

“Keep up your mechanics and form. As soon as your mechanics leave you, that’s when you start to get away from your original spot.�

Video interviews of each athlete can be found at latimes.com/sports/highschool.