By Jackson Smith
Web Editor

Clackamas Community College holds many athletes from all walks of life. Some come from other counties, some from out of state and even some from different countries.

One athlete from out of state is Natalia Pastrana, an infielder for the Cougars softball team.

Pastrana. All images provided by Natalia Pastrana

Pastrana hails from the small island of Moloka’i in Hawaii. Moloka’i is home to around 7,500 people, which for context is about five times smaller than Oregon City. 

With Moloka’i being such a small island, Pastrana maintains strong ties with her home town.

“I grew up on the west side of that island, I grew up around just like family around my town,” said Pastrana. “That’s my home. Lots of family, lots of friends, everybody knows each other.” 

Growing up, Pastrana had limited choices for her education and athletics. For her first year of high school she was home-schooled, then continued to Moloka’i High School for her remaining three years.

Pastrana playing for Moloka’i high school.

During her time in high school, Pastrana played both basketball and softball for all four years.

In the end, she chose softball over basketball because of her family’s history with the sport.

“I have an older brother and two older sisters, we all started off with baseball because softball wasn’t offered,” said Pastrana. “I actually enjoy softball a lot, it’s my sport, I really love it. I think the majority of that is that my sisterdom played it, I wanted to play it as well.”  

When choosing where to go to further her athletic career, CCC came as a no-brainer. The Pastrana family holds multiple ties to the Cougars.

“Both my sisters actually attended here at CCC. My older sister [Wehi Pastrana], she was a second baseman here at Clack,” said Pastrana. “My other sister Alaijah, she was a catcher and outfielder, so I am the third Pastrana girl here to play for coach Jess.”

Being at the college means that Pastrana gets the opportunity to follow in her sisters footsteps. The team she is on holds more value to her than just the sport.

“I think it’s a great thing that I’m able to follow my sisters as well. I want to be very much like them as a player,” said Pastrana. “My sisters set the standard, and I want to be able to beat that standard.”

Going from the sunny islands of Hawaii to the rainy suburbs of Oregon is certainly a shock, and Pastrana learned the hard way that Oregon’s April showers do not always bring May flowers.

Aerial view of Moloka’i island.

“It’s very cold, I had to adjust fast based off of that,” said Pastrana. “Now it’s getting hotter, but it’s not as hot like how it is back home. During the winters it’s never below 60 degrees.”

Aside from the temperature difference, Pastrana missed much more from home. Leaving to play for CCC meant leaving her family back in Hawaii.

“The one thing I miss the most is my family and just being around them, because I think I feel the most happiest when I’m with them,” said Pastrana.

Pastrana’s family.

Luckily for Pastrana, it didn’t take long for her to find her way here at the college.

“I love my team and I love my coaches. We get along so well, it’s just that type of team that you just click with,” said Pastrana.

This new team took some time to adjust to, however. Leaving home to settle down somewhere far away is hard for anyone, and this rings true for Pastrana.

“At first when I came here I was kind of stuck in my own shell, kind of very quiet not wanting to open up. As time went on I talked to coach Jess, I started to open up, and all I know is that we click instantly,” Pastrana said.

Now after almost a full year here at the college, Pastrana can say she adjusted to the cold weather and the homesickness.

Pastrana plans on returning to the college next year to play for the Cougars in her sophomore season, and has plans beyond CCC as well.

“I do want to continue softball. I am debating between staying up here in Oregon, or going back home to possibly play for [Hawaii Pacific University] or [University of Hawaii at Hilo],” Pastrana said.

Pastrana still has another year at the college, giving her time to make a decision on staying in Oregon or returning to Hawaii.

No matter her choice, Pastrana has found a home-away-from-home here in Oregon.