Saint Mary's College of California Women's Softball

As just announced by Saint Mary's Head Softball Coach [Sonja Garnett](https://smcgaels.com/sports/softball/roster/coaches/sonja-garnett/2514), former standout Cal Poly outfielder Juju Sargent will join the Gaels coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach. Sargent will spearhead coaching of the team's outfielders. Sargent brings five years of division playing experience at the position, appearing in 181 total games in her time as a student-athlete at Cal Poly.  "We are looking forward to having Juju complete our staff." noted Coach Garnett, "She had an impressive playing career and will help elevate our outfield. She is the final piece of the puzzle, and we look forward to getting her on campus next month!" Sargent is a Contra Costa County product, born and raised in Brentwood, California, less than 40 miles from Saint Mary's campus. After a storied career at Heritage High School in which she shined with both the bat and glove, Sargent committed to play collegiate softball at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. She spent her first two seasons as a middle infielder before being named the team's starting right fielder in her junior season of 2022. A breakout season for Juju, she batted 0.306 over 46 games, driving in a career best 21, while committing just one error on 66 fielding chances. Sargent continued her upward trajectory in her final two seasons with the Mustangs. In 2023, she earned second team All-Big West honors, batting 0.289, and logging career marks with 12 stolen bases (including a program record tying three in one game against Cal State Bakersfield) and four outfield assists. In her final season of collegiate play, Sargent hit a career best 0.333 with 49 hits, earning an All-Big West honorable mention nod. Over her final three seasons, Sargent made just three errors in the outfield.  Sargent graduated from Cal Poly in 2024 with a degree in sports management with a minor in exercise and sports science. She has picked up coaching experience throughout her career with East County Little League, the Cal Nuggets, and for the Nike and Mustang Softball Camps. Sargent will work with a strong group of returning Gael outfielders, headlined by first team All-WCC center fielder [Hannah Ferguson](https://smcgaels.com/sports/softball/roster/hannah-ferguson/5532).