Megan Yorba takes a great deal of pride in serving as a role model for her siblings and extended family.

The Ceres High School senior signed a national letter of intent on March 5 to play softball at Holy Names University.

“My little sisters and nieces really look up to me,” said Yorba, who received a combination of academic and athletic scholarships from the Division-II school. “It’s inspired me to continue to do well. I’m showing them that you can go to college. It doesn’t have to stop after high school. They’ll get to see my journey.”

“They also play softball,” she added. “One of my nieces decided to pitch because of me. She also wears the same number.”

Yorba’s signing ceremony was staged in front of her mom, two sisters, and current and former teammates and coaches at the George Costa Ball Field Complex.

“It was a really special moment,” she said. “That’s pretty much where my softball career started. I’m very thankful for the support from my family. It takes a lot of money and time.”

Yorba committed to Holy Names, which is located in Oakland, following a month-long recruiting process.

“It all happened really fast,” she said. “It was a really easy decision. At first, I wanted to go to a big school. Holy Names is a smaller school. But I felt at home there.”

Yorba took her official visit to Holy Names this past winter.

“I liked the campus,” she said. “Everyone seemed to know each other. The coaching staff and girls on the team were really nice. It was a great environment.”

Yorba was recruited to pitch for Holy Names, which amassed a 7-17 overall record and placed last in the PacWest Conference Northern California Pod last spring.

“I want to show that I can play at that level (as a true freshman),” Yorba said.

Mike Corsaut coached Yorba at Mae Hensley Jr. High and during her junior, sophomore and freshman years at Ceres High.

“I’m happy for Megan,” he said. “She’ll be successful there.”

Yorba helped lead the Bulldogs to a 19-6 overall record, first-place finish in the Western Athletic Conference (13-1) and Sac-Joaquin Section Division-III playoff berth during her freshman year.

She earned second-team all-league honors.

Yorba compiled a 9-3 record with a 1.44 earned-run average, 88 strikeouts, 10 walks and one save in 45 innings.

She batted .351 from the plate with five RBIs and 10 runs.

Yorba posted a 1-1 record with a 1.17 ERA, 23 strikeouts and two walks in 12 innings as Ceres High finished 6-2 on the year and 1-0 in the WAC standings during the 2020 COVID-shortened season.

She hit .375 and scored two runs in 10 plate appearances.

Yorba had a perfect 4-0 mark at pitcher with a 1.17 ERA, 42 strikeouts and four walks in 30 innings of work as a junior. 

She batted .333 with one triple, two doubles, 12 RBIs and 10 runs.

Yorba plays travel softball for the NorCal Firecrackers. She’s coached by Nick Parry.

She takes pitching lessons from Jimmy Dyson.

Yorba started playing softball at the age of five.

Yorba will major in Kinesiology at Holy Names.

She currently has a cumulative grade-point average of 4.1.

“I like getting good grades,” she said. 

Yorba accomplished a lifelong athletic goal by earning a scholarship to a four-year college.

She’s excited to begin the next chapter of her life.

“I watched college softball on TV all the time when I was in elementary school,” Yorba said. “That was my goal-to eventually play at that level. It’s something I love doing. I’m the first one in my family to go to college. I’m really excited to go off and experience stuff for myself.”