By Jimmy Allinder
Mackenzie Garrick owns two career strikeout records for the South River High School softball team and has a year of eligibility left.
But never did Garrick dream she would achieve such success, much less play softball, when she took up the sport as an 11-year-old.
That’s when Jim Duffy, a coach for an opposing recreation basketball team and father of a close friend, convinced Garrick to play softball, even though hoops was — and remains — one of her favorite sports.
“He asked me if I would be interested in playing for the travel team he coached in Sayreville,” she said. “I eventually said yes but to this day, I don’t know what he saw in me because I couldn’t hit.”
Garrick played outfield and later shifted to second base but never felt comfortable at the plate. However, “failure” has never been in her vocabulary, and Garrick was determined to succeed.
That was the thought process behind Garrick switch to another position — pitcher.
“I told my mom, [Cassandra], I wanted to pitch,” Garrick said. “She didn’t act surprised but was totally supportive and became my catcher during my backyard throwing sessions.”
Shortly after, Duffy introduced Garrick to his pitching coach, Tom Besser, who helped improve her technical ability and remains the most inspirational coach in her career.
Garrick’s pair of school records is for career strikeouts (currently 629) and strikeouts in a season (258). Her career record at South River is 48-24 since starting as a freshman.
“I really thought basketball would be my main sport growing up,” Garrick said. “I’ve been involved with dance since I was a young girl and I cheer in the fall, but things have changed.”
Garrick could have gone to a different high school. She attended Catholic grammar school and was considering Cardinal McCarrick High School in South Amboy (now closed) or Bishop George Ahr High School in Edison. Each school welcomed Garrick’s enrollment, but she turned them down.
One person who is grateful she did is Rams softball coach Deb Devivo, who Garrick says has impacted her in many ways.
“We’ve developed a close bond, and I’m thankful she’s my coach,” Garrick said. “She has helped me with so many things related to softball and life. If I have an issue in school or it’s just a bad day, she calms me down.”
“Mackenzie has been our most valuable player for the three years she’s been the starting pitcher,” Devivo said. “I call her the nail that holds us together as a player and leader. She has been able to cheer and play basketball in addition to softball and has put 110 percent into each sport.”
Garrick’s grade-point average is 4.2, which makes her one of the top students in her class. She said she has made a verbal commitment to attend Pace University.
Before stepping on the rubber, Garrick says she’s only focused on the batter and not allowing her to score.
“I used to think I needed to get everybody out, but I’ve tempered that belief,” she said. “My mom told me I needed to control my thoughts, and I’m now in better control of my emotions.”
Garrick admits she still becomes anxious sometimes when an error leads to a run, but that’s her competitive personality re-surfacing. In many ways, Garrick’s high-octane energy serves her in positive ways, such as the ability to compete in three sports and still be a model student.
“Balancing academics with sports is a challenge, and I have moments when I’m overwhelmed and feel like quitting everything,” she said. “But like pitching, I’ve learned to adjust my thinking. I’ve taken honors classes for three years and I’m about to tackle AP (Advanced Placement) classes this fall.”
Besides her mother, Garrick’s life has been impacted by former vice principal Paul Coleman; Joe Ur, her coach when she played for the East Brunswick Chaos; and Joe Salvatore and his brother, Dave, who are head and assistant coaches, respectively, for Garrick’s current team, the New Jersey Breakers. Garrick also gives a shoutout to her boyfriend, Dave Nichols, and best friends Jack Lane and Maddie Bartle, who make up her personal rooting section.
Finally, Garrick mentions the one who inspired her most but is no longer here: her grandfather, Frank.
“He passed away on April 18, and my life has changed forever,” Garrick said. “Pop-Pop was my No. 1 fan, and every day he asked me for my autograph because he believed I would one day be famous.
“The memory that will always remain with me was when I had a game the day he died and heard my mom yell, ‘hit one for Pop-Pop.’ I then launched the next pitch over the center field fence and as I rounded the bases, I started to cry.”
Garrick’s biggest moment of her life was, of all things, a hit.
