Cleburne’s Bekka Castillo, one of Lady Jacket softball’s pillars over the past four years, signed her National Letter of Intent on Saturday to continue her career with Trinity Valley Community College. Castillo has been a multiple-time all-district and All-Johnson County selection throughout her three years of varsity softball entering her final year. And the Lady Jacket senior secured her future by signing with the Lady Cardinals, the culmination of countless hours of practice. “It meant the world the me to finally be able to sign my National Letter of Intent,” Castillo said. “I’ve worked so hard for so many years and now it’s a dream come true to be able to sign to play college softball. “I picked TVCC because the coaches are absolutely amazing. From the time I met them they believed in me tremendously. Then when I went on a visit, I knew that’s where I was going to go because the people there are so kind and caring. I’m looking forward to all the new friends and experiences that will come with being a college student-athlete.” Cleburne Head Softball Coach Kala Winn said Castillo has been a rock for the Lady Jackets as a starter since her freshman season. “Bekka has been the driving force behind the Lady Jackets,” Winn said. “Last year she really showed how much her presence is needed when she stepped up and gained the starting position as pitcher, a position in which she had not competed in since she was an eighth grader in select ball. She is a very empathetic person and has used that to find ways to lead the team off the field as well as on it. “It was very emotional to see her sign because I believe she has grown tremendously since her freshman year. I have really enjoyed watching her go from a young lady to a woman. She has really worked and taken coaching from us, and she deserves every bit of the scholarship she has earned. I know she will go out and make the community proud in softball on the field as well as in the community she is entering.” Castillo, who has played primarily catcher and first base during her career, took over as the Lady Jackets’ pitcher last season and was a key part of Cleburne snapping a 10-year playoff drought. “It meant a whole lot to finally be able to end the playoff drought,” Castillo said. “We had been so close but we kept coming up short. It has given us the confidence that we can do it again.” For this season, Castillo said she hopes they build off last year’s success. “My hopes and expectations are the same as last year, playoffs,” she said. “Plus this year we are striving for district champs. We are returning seven starters on the field this year plus we gained some really good freshmen who will contribute to how far we make it. I have really high hopes for our freshmen this year to be able to step up and help us out.” Castillo will return to playing catcher when joins TVCC, which competes in the National Junior College Athletic Association in Region XIV against teams like Tyler Junior College, Navarro College, Kilgore College and Paris Junior College. Castillo, who plays select ball with Texas Fusion 18U, said her coaches and family have been instrumental in helping her reach her goal of becoming a college softball player. “I want to thank Coach Winn, Coach [Bailey] Thigpen, and Coach [Greg] Funderburk for always believing in me for the past four years and never doubting me even when I doubted myself,” Castillo said. “I want to thank my select coaches for always pushing me to be my best. "A special thanks to my parents for all the hours they have spent at the ballpark when they could have been home relaxing and for them never getting to have a family vacation because our only vacations involved softball. And last but not least my little sister for being my best friend and No. 1 supporter. She always made me want to be a better player and work harder than she did.” Castillo and the Lady Jackets open the 2018 season at 7 p.m. Tuesday when they host Maypearl.