Mackenzie Brennan has been in some big games during her high school softball career, so it’s surprising that she got so nervous she nearly threw up prior to a regular-season matchup with Ocean City on Thursday. Sure, the Red Raiders came into the game 5-0 and first place in the Cape-Atlantic League’s National Conference was on the line, but that wasn’t what had Brennan’s stomach in knots.
The junior outfielder came in needing just one more hit to reach 100 for her career, and impressive milestone for any high school softball or baseball player.
The nerves got to her early, as she popped up in her first two at-bats, but the Bunting Family Pharmacy Athlete of the Week is too good a hitter to let that keep happening. In the fourth inning, she stroked an RBI single to center field that put the Mustangs up 4-0. The game was halted momentarily as she was surrounded by teammates bearing flowers and signs.
“I almost threw up, to be honest. A lot of people told me all day in school that they were coming out to the game, so I was eager to get that hit,” said Brennan, a junior center fielder for the Mustangs. “I was kind of getting frustrated at first. I was very anxious to get that hit because I’ve been trying for two weeks and finally got it.”
“It’s a cool thing. It hasn’t happened in more than 10 years. She’s a really good hitter and we feed off of her,” said teammate Bailey Arena, who tossed a two-hit shutout to pick up the win inside the circle.
Brennan is one of a trio of outstanding left-handed hitters who have paced Mainland the past couple of years. With herself, right fielder Faith Hegh and first baseman Meredith Miller leading the way, Mainland has taken the lead in the CAL National, as the Mustangs are 3-0 in conference play and 5-1 overall. Their only loss came on April 8 to Williamstown, and in their five wins they’ve scored seven or more runs each time.
“She was putting a little bit of stress on herself. I told her to just clear her mind and just play softball. Let’s not worry about hits, let’s just play some softball. I doubt she did it, to be quite honest, but maybe a little bit made it in there. She tries to act cool and collected, but she was nervous. I think she was a little over-zealous in her first two at-bats, but that happens. I’m glad we’re able to move on from the 100 hits because now she can just concentrate on playing softball,” said Mainland coach Frank Marascio. “We have another player, Meredith Miller, who is closing in on 100 hits, and that speaks volumes about these girls. They hit the ball and they know how to win.”
— From staff reports