Courtesy Photo Hillman’s Jessica Jones (seated) is pictured with her parents Jeff and Kris Jones and Delta College softball coach Rick Haskell after signing her Letter of Intent to join the Pioneers on Monday at Hillman High School.

HILLMAN — After two years away from the softball field, Jessica Jones had no idea what to expect.

Regardless, she told herself to just go out and play.

“I know it was going to be rough. I hadn’t played since my freshman year and that’s a lot of time,” Jones said. “But I didn’t even think about missing time, I just went out and played.”

Jones’ return to the field was a successful one and ultimately ended with postseason hardware and a chance to play at the next level.

Jones signed her Letter of Intent to play softball at Delta College on Monday.

“It’s a kind of feeling I really can’t describe,” Jones said. “Having a love for the sport and knowing I can continue that makes me happy.”

In recent years, many Hillman athletes have signed with Delta, including Jones’ brother Ty, who played baseball for the Pioneers. Former Hillman softball players Maci (Schook) Cordes, Jensen Tchorzynski, and Kalen Tchorzynski have all played for Delta as well.

Jones plans to pursue studies in early education.

“I’ve had friends go there, that was a big factor in going there,” Jones said. “But I like the whole area. Everyone there is so nice and it feels like a family.”

After getting injured during her sophomore season and having her junior season lost to the pandemic, Jones was raring to go in 2021. She batted .344 in the regular season with 32 hits, a home run, 17 RBI and 21 runs scored, while helping the Tigers win the North Star League’s Little Dipper division title.

In the playoffs, Jones had several big hits as Hillman won district and regional championships for the first time since 2015. During regionals, Jones drove in several runs and hit a solo home run for Hillman’s only run in a quarterfinal loss to Rudyard.

Jones was one of three Hillman players to earn first team all-conference honors from the North Star League this spring.

“We started off pretty rough, but to come back and go as far as we did, it’s incredible. It really means a lot to me and my teammates,” Jones said of Hillman’s postseason run. “I didn’t think for a second that we couldn’t do it. I had confidence in myself and my teammates.”