Jordy Bahl’s journey in softball has taken her from the fields of Papillion-La Vista to the national stage and back again. The former Monarchs standout and Oklahoma Sooners pitcher returned to Nebraska, bringing her talent, experience, and hometown pride to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Huskers.
Bahl’s softball career began with the Monarchs during the 2017-2018 season, where she quickly became a key player. Reflecting on her time there, she shares, “There’s no greater thing than representing your town. That’s what made part of my high school experience so special.”
Playing alongside a tight-knit group of teammates for four years left a lasting impact. “There were like eight or nine of us that were together the whole time. It was a really special four years.”
Her time with the Monarchs also set the foundation for her success at the collegiate level. “Coach Todd Petersen, he does a great job just preparing girls for college,” Bahl says. “His style of practice played a big role in maturing us and preparing us for the next step.”
After graduating in 2021, Bahl took her talents to Oklahoma, where she played her freshman and sophomore seasons. Her time with the Sooners was filled with unforgettable moments, including being part of two of the team’s “back-to-back-to-back-to back” national championships.
“I got to learn a lot and play with some incredible athletes and build some friendships,” she says. “But nothing beats the hometown jersey.”
Coming back to Nebraska was a dream come true. “Obviously, it’s been really cool. I wouldn’t change my experience for anything,” she says. “But when you’re from Nebraska, you grow up dreaming of wearing that jersey.”
Bahl takes immense pride in playing alongside other Nebraska natives. In a recent game against the University of Nebraska at Omaha, she noted, “There were like 20 girls on the two rosters combined that were native Nebraskans.”
She sees that pride as a testament to the strength of the state’s softball community, as well as an advantage to coming together as a team. “We’re either familiar with each other from playing together or we played against each other growing up.”
For young women looking to follow in her footsteps, Bahl offers simple but powerful advice: “Observe and learn what you can from the older girls. That’s what I did.” She credits former players like fellow former Monarchs Julie Andersen and Gina Metlzer as role models.
“The program has so much tradition," she shares of PLHS. "You don’t want to let your teammates down, but you don’t want to let the alumni down either. You put that jersey on with pride.”