Long Trips Lead Jordynn Booe Close To Home For College Softball

Traveling across the country to play tournaments and attend clinics can stretch a family’s budget and make it hard to find time for real vacations.

Jordynn Booe Jordynn Booe OF/MIF Weiss | 2026 #49 Nation TX ‘s family has tried to make trips into all-in-one sports excursions. Booe, her parents, and her younger brother try to visit nearby Major League Baseball stadiums and college football stadiums whenever she is traveling for softball.

“We’ve been to almost all the baseball stadiums around the country, and it’s just been such a cool experience,” Booe said. “My parents have taken me so far for college camps, and we try to see all the stadiums and see how the campuses are done. It’s been so much fun.”

Booe’s family won’t have to make the same sacrifice to watch her home games in college. The 2026 recruit from Pflugerville, Texas has committed to play for the University of Texas, which is only a short drive from her home.

“It was just such a dream to hear that Texas even texted me. I was definitely a little shocked,” Booe said. “But I was so surprised and so happy. I’ve always wanted to go there.”

The 5-foot-4 Booe, who plays for Texas Unity and attends Weiss High School, credits her tenacity for helping her stand out on the field.

“I’m very aggressive. I’m very competitive. I don’t think that I would have gotten recruited if I wasn’t as competitive as I am,” she said. “It’s not in a rude way and I am not disrespectful. I just always wanted to win.”

A right-hander by nature, Booe became a lefty hitter at a young age because her mom knew her size wouldn’t necessarily translate to a power game.

“I’m definitely strong at the plate. That’s my biggest thing. I love hitting,” Booe said. “I love just being able to go up and either swing, slap or bunt. It’s my favorite thing. I love switching up and confusing the defense.”

Booe’s mom, Chrissy Hildebrandt, played softball at San Francisco State. Jordynn began playing the sport by age 4 and joined a travel ball team by 10. Her family moved from California to Texas for her dad’s job when she was 13, and Booe became more focused on softball after initially believing soccer may be in her future.

“That’s when I realized how big the competition was down here. It was insane,” Booe said. “It was such a big switch from Northern California to like Austin, Texas or Houston, because that’s where all the tournaments are based out of.”

Booe has played nearly everywhere on the field during her young career. She spent some time in the circle before deciding she was better off devoting time elsewhere.

“I switched to being an outfielder because I was like, ‘I’m not going to get anywhere pitching. I might as well just try and get myself recruited as an outfielder,’” she said. “At first, I definitely did not think that I was a top recruit. I thought that I was more of a lesser player, but I always had confidence when I played.”

Booe’s love for softball has evolved gradually. Although soccer was high on her radar early, she feels more at home on the dirt and hitting pitches instead of playing on one.

“I knew because of how passionate my mom was about it, and she brought her passion into me. I started to feel it, and I started to know that this was my sport,” Booe said. “I was never as competitive in my other sports. I didn’t have that fight to want to practice softball and I wanted to get better every day and work on things.”

Booe, who wants to become an ultrasound technician, spends a lot of her free time reading books. She is particularly fond of the mystery and horror genre.

“I’ve always been one of those kids that choose to just stay in and read instead of going out to parties and stuff,” Booe said. “I think it was because my parents and teachers got me into reading Harry Potter when I was in the third grade and I just stuck with it. My mom buys me books, and then she’ll read them after me.”

Although Booe will be attending college only 15 minutes from home, she doesn’t expect to be making regular visits to do laundry and eat some home-cooked meals.

“My parents want me to live out the college experience. They said they’re gonna change the locks,” she said with a laugh.

If you have a good story to share about a prep softball player, contact Rhiannon Potkey (rpotkey@yahoo.com).