Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
Newcomer Q&A - Maggie Balint
02/06/17 | Softball
Get to know freshman pitcher Maggie Balint
As the 2017 softball season starts, get to know the newcomers with a series of Q&As! Next up is Maggie Balint, a freshman pitcher from West Grove, Pa.
Balint was a three-time Gatorade player of the year in the state of Pennsylvania. The right-hander ended her high school career at Avon Grove HS with 1,322 career strikeouts, the most in state history.
Do you have a nickname?
My real name is Margaret but my no one calls me that. I go by Maggie.
When did you start playing softball?
I started playing softball when I was nine but I did not start pitching until I was 13.
What is your favorite softball memory?
My favorite softball memory was when my team went to the state championship. it is my favorite because there were many people that put down my district and team. Even though we did not win it all, the experience I got to share with my teammates and let them be apart of something that I was working for four years. My goals were to get to the state championship, even though we did not win it all it showed me that you can do whatever you put your mind to.
Did anyone in your family play softball?
My mom played softball at St. Johns in NYC. She was also a pitcher. Her prime pitches were a change and a drop.
Tell us more about your family.
I am one of four siblings. I have three younger brothers. David who is a senior, Cole who is a sophomore and Hunter, who is in sixth grade. All my brothers play football. David just signed his NLI to play football at Shippensburg University this fall. Cole is 6-foot-3 and still growing and he also is starting his recruiting soon. And my brother Hunter is still exploring lacrosse and football. I also have two amazing parents that are very supportive. My mom is my pitching coach. We not only have a mother and daughter relationship but we also have a very strong passion for pitching. My dad would probably be my biggest supporter. He is the guy that I go to and he knows what to say to make me think and approach things differently. Even though my parents are strict and push me, I see why they do the things they have done for me. I have a very close family that I can rely on in good times and bad times. I am forever thankful for their support!
Do you have any role models?
Since being at Oregon I would have to say out of all the athletes and people I know, Megan Kleist is my role model. She is a hard worker in the bullpen and she knows what she has to do to preform at a high level. I joke with her all the time that I look up to her but she doesn't know I really do mean it. Especially being a freshman, Megan has made everything a lot less stressful in bullpen. Megan is a special individual on and off the field, even though she is quiet she is a competitor that I love to compete with.
Why did you choose Oregon?
I chose Oregon because of coach White. I want to improve my pitching skills and from his experience with softball, it clearly has been proven that coach White is one of the best pitchers to play the game. One of my goals before high school was to go as far as I can away from home. Oregon is the farthest place I could have gone to play at a high level and compete in the World Series.
Any thoughts on what your major will be?
Right now I am studying journalism. In the future I want to work for ESPN as a broadcaster.
What have your first couple of quarters in college been like?
I absolutely love it. Coming from the East Coast, it is so different living on the West Coast. The people I have met has been life changing. Seeing where people come from and what their views are makes me really think about who I am. I love being away from home and living on my own too. Choosing Oregon for softball and my education is hands down the best decision I could have made.
What are you most excited about this year?
Heading into the season I am excited to start playing with my team. As a team we went through a lot in the past couple of months and I think my teammates and I are eager to get out there and start competing.
Why did you choose your jersey number?
For the next four years I plan on keeping No. 25. The reason I wear No. 25 is because my mom wore that number in college. For all her hard work and pushing me the past couple of years, I think I owe it to my mom for my success.
What are some of your other hobbies outside of softball?
Some of my hobbies outside of softball are shopping, getting my nails done and laying in bed all day watching scary movies! Since I'm always running around all the time, I make a strong effort to have some "me time," which means I'm by myself just resting or doing something I normally can't do during the week.
What is a goal you have for your college career?
One of my goals for my college career is to be the best teammate I can be. Learning more about the game and how to give back to the game.
What is a goal you have for after graduation?
After graduation I plan on trying out for the USA team and hopefully I'll get to compete in the Olympics! After that, finding a job for ESPN and starting a new life on the other side of sports.
Anything else you want people to know about you?
People always doubted me in high school, telling me I couldn't play in college out West or in the South because "those schools don't take East Coast kids." So on my glove this season it says "East Coast" for all the young athletes that have been told they can't go somewhere they want to go. This year I've devoted my season to where I came from. Go Ducks!
Balint was a three-time Gatorade player of the year in the state of Pennsylvania. The right-hander ended her high school career at Avon Grove HS with 1,322 career strikeouts, the most in state history.
Do you have a nickname?
My real name is Margaret but my no one calls me that. I go by Maggie.
When did you start playing softball?
I started playing softball when I was nine but I did not start pitching until I was 13.
What is your favorite softball memory?
My favorite softball memory was when my team went to the state championship. it is my favorite because there were many people that put down my district and team. Even though we did not win it all, the experience I got to share with my teammates and let them be apart of something that I was working for four years. My goals were to get to the state championship, even though we did not win it all it showed me that you can do whatever you put your mind to.
Did anyone in your family play softball?
My mom played softball at St. Johns in NYC. She was also a pitcher. Her prime pitches were a change and a drop.
Tell us more about your family.
I am one of four siblings. I have three younger brothers. David who is a senior, Cole who is a sophomore and Hunter, who is in sixth grade. All my brothers play football. David just signed his NLI to play football at Shippensburg University this fall. Cole is 6-foot-3 and still growing and he also is starting his recruiting soon. And my brother Hunter is still exploring lacrosse and football. I also have two amazing parents that are very supportive. My mom is my pitching coach. We not only have a mother and daughter relationship but we also have a very strong passion for pitching. My dad would probably be my biggest supporter. He is the guy that I go to and he knows what to say to make me think and approach things differently. Even though my parents are strict and push me, I see why they do the things they have done for me. I have a very close family that I can rely on in good times and bad times. I am forever thankful for their support!
Do you have any role models?
Since being at Oregon I would have to say out of all the athletes and people I know, Megan Kleist is my role model. She is a hard worker in the bullpen and she knows what she has to do to preform at a high level. I joke with her all the time that I look up to her but she doesn't know I really do mean it. Especially being a freshman, Megan has made everything a lot less stressful in bullpen. Megan is a special individual on and off the field, even though she is quiet she is a competitor that I love to compete with.
Why did you choose Oregon?
I chose Oregon because of coach White. I want to improve my pitching skills and from his experience with softball, it clearly has been proven that coach White is one of the best pitchers to play the game. One of my goals before high school was to go as far as I can away from home. Oregon is the farthest place I could have gone to play at a high level and compete in the World Series.
Any thoughts on what your major will be?
Right now I am studying journalism. In the future I want to work for ESPN as a broadcaster.
What have your first couple of quarters in college been like?
I absolutely love it. Coming from the East Coast, it is so different living on the West Coast. The people I have met has been life changing. Seeing where people come from and what their views are makes me really think about who I am. I love being away from home and living on my own too. Choosing Oregon for softball and my education is hands down the best decision I could have made.
What are you most excited about this year?
Heading into the season I am excited to start playing with my team. As a team we went through a lot in the past couple of months and I think my teammates and I are eager to get out there and start competing.
Why did you choose your jersey number?
For the next four years I plan on keeping No. 25. The reason I wear No. 25 is because my mom wore that number in college. For all her hard work and pushing me the past couple of years, I think I owe it to my mom for my success.
What are some of your other hobbies outside of softball?
Some of my hobbies outside of softball are shopping, getting my nails done and laying in bed all day watching scary movies! Since I'm always running around all the time, I make a strong effort to have some "me time," which means I'm by myself just resting or doing something I normally can't do during the week.
What is a goal you have for your college career?
One of my goals for my college career is to be the best teammate I can be. Learning more about the game and how to give back to the game.
What is a goal you have for after graduation?
After graduation I plan on trying out for the USA team and hopefully I'll get to compete in the Olympics! After that, finding a job for ESPN and starting a new life on the other side of sports.
Anything else you want people to know about you?
People always doubted me in high school, telling me I couldn't play in college out West or in the South because "those schools don't take East Coast kids." So on my glove this season it says "East Coast" for all the young athletes that have been told they can't go somewhere they want to go. This year I've devoted my season to where I came from. Go Ducks!
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
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