In honor of Signing Day 2015, we’re spotlighting top senior softball players and getting their thoughts, perspectives and plans on the recruiting process and what it’s finally like to sign that Letter of Intent!

We want your Signing Day pictures and videos! Send your high quality photos and videos to sarah.hoffman@flosports.tv and check out FloSoftball all week for all the Signing Day excitement!

Today’s focus is on pitcher Maggie Balint, a two-time Gatorade State Player of the Year, who will sign with the University of Oregon and was ranked No. 4 in the 2016 Hot 100…

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Did you ever think this day—signing with your dream school—would come!
No! I have been dreaming about college since 7th grade, when I was too young to even understand what college was all about. Everyone kept telling me, “You need to start thinking about where you want to go.” All I knew is that I wanted to be the best pitcher I could be and play at a school far away. The journey to get here was non-traditional in the softball world. It was very long and involved many bends and turns but the adversity and challenges that I faced are what makes signing with Oregon so special. It was definitely worth the wait!

Where will you be signing your Letter of Intent this week?
I will be signing my NLI this Wednesday, Nov. 11, at my High School, Avon Grove High in West Grove, Pennsylvania.

Will it be a big occasion or more low-key?
It's a low-key event for the high school, not publicly advertised and done after school. But signing an NLI to play at Oregon is a huge occasion for me. I want everyone that has been a part of getting me to where I am to come to my signing. So I have invited family, friends, coaches, teammates, and people from as far back as Little League. It has been a journey, and I wouldn't be where I am today without all of them. I hope they can all come and be there with me on Wednesday.

Will you do anything to celebrate the big day?
We invited a lot of family and friends to the signing at the school and after we are having a party back at my house to celebrate.

What date did you actually commit?
I committed just eight weeks ago, on September 19, 2015.

What highlight stands out to you about the recruiting process?
Since I was able to go through the recruiting process as a senior I had the opportunity to do official visits at four different schools. Traveling all around the country, visiting with coaches, meeting players and watching football games was pretty exciting and something I will always remember. But the greatest moment of all was committing to Coach White during my visit to Oregon in September. We had just finished dinner on my last night of the visit. Coach K and Coach Spencer along with Jenna Lilley walked outside the restaurant where we were saying our goodbyes. Then my mom asked me when I would have a decision. I looked at Coach White and said, "I already decided where I want to go." Everyone was dead silent staring at me… then I yelled out "I want to be a Duck" and everyone starting jumping up and down yelling. It was the most exciting moment of all!

What was the “aha” moment when you knew the program was the right one for you?
Coach White came to my house for a home visit. He spent the whole day with me and my family. We got to learn a lot about each other and as he drove up my driveway that night I realized he was the coach for me!

What will signing with your dream school mean to you personally and to those who’ve been part of your success (family, coaches, teammates, etc.)?
Playing for Oregon is my dream come true. My goal was to play for a top team with the best pitching coach and I have all of that at Oregon. Being able to continue my softball career for four more years is exciting, but being able to do it at Oregon is exceptional. My family and Chaos Coaches have been so supportive in helping me achieve my dream, I would not be where I am today without all of them. My parents and coaches are so invested so signing on Wednesday is really a celebration of a great accomplishment by all of us. I asked my Chaos Coach, Joe Spina, what me signing meant to him. He said, "It means that I get to see a young lady who worked so hard reach her dream. And with Maggie it is even sweeter, because Maggie bet on herself and won (referring to the risk of de-committing and entering the recruiting process in her junior year)! When all of the outsiders—and some of the insiders—told her she was dumb for giving up what she had, she knew she would work hard and get to where she wanted! For future athletes I coach she will be the example to that. Maggie also proved if you work hard and believe in yourself you will make it.”

How much Oregon gear and product do you have already?
Since I only committed eight weeks ago I don't have as much as I would like!

What’s next for you and your softball plans?
I have lots of goals for my senior year: I want to continue to get bigger and stronger in the weight room this winter, I want to dominate in high school softball this spring, I want to represent Gatorade for Pennsylvania for the third time and I am looking forward to traveling around the country next summer with Chaos and competing against the top travel ball teams as I get ready to head off to college.


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