Spring Break
Michalczyk Leaves Footprint On Storied Program
Justin Verrier
Issue date: 5/6/07 Section: Sports
But, in reality, there was no choice. After getting her ankle scoped, it was mere months before the pain resurfaced and she was sent back to the doctor's office.
This time, it was either get the whole ankle reconstructed or never see the mound again.
For someone whose only previous experience in the hospital was to get her abnoids and tonsils out, the thought of undergoing such an extreme surgery shot chills up Michalczyk's spine. But she knew she had to or else that was it for her.
"The first one I was like, alright, no big deal, it's just a scope." Michalczyk said. "The second one, ugh, that was terrible. It was scary - really scary."
The pitcher, whose icy gaze atop the bump could strike fear in the hearts of opposing batters was left as petrified as a young child at the end of Bambi.
But while the whole process of going under the knife scared her, she was more concerned about the doubt that began to creep into her mind, "Will I play again?"
"You get nervous," she said. "It's scary. It's like, how am I going to come back from it, being a pitcher. Am I going to be able to do what I wanted to do?"
For her, softball was all she'd ever known.
Michalczyk began playing at the tender age of 9. And from the moment she strapped on a pair of cleats and high socks, she's been excelling at it.
Instead of throwing her in with children her own age, Michalczyk's father had her completely bypass T-ball and sent her straight to the majors with the big girls.
"I think he thought that it would be tougher and I would learn a little bit quicker," Michalczyk said. "I think he didn't want to baby me seeing I didn't have any experience in it. I just think that's the way he does stuff."
Despite being a few feet shorter and a little younger than most, it was quite obvious early on that her game was far beyond her years - even among the older children.
And while softball may not have been her thing early on - she secretly dreamt of playing basketball for UConn or Tennessee - Michalczyk jokes that she stopped growing and soon fell in love with the sport.
This time, it was either get the whole ankle reconstructed or never see the mound again.
For someone whose only previous experience in the hospital was to get her abnoids and tonsils out, the thought of undergoing such an extreme surgery shot chills up Michalczyk's spine. But she knew she had to or else that was it for her.
"The first one I was like, alright, no big deal, it's just a scope." Michalczyk said. "The second one, ugh, that was terrible. It was scary - really scary."
The pitcher, whose icy gaze atop the bump could strike fear in the hearts of opposing batters was left as petrified as a young child at the end of Bambi.
But while the whole process of going under the knife scared her, she was more concerned about the doubt that began to creep into her mind, "Will I play again?"
"You get nervous," she said. "It's scary. It's like, how am I going to come back from it, being a pitcher. Am I going to be able to do what I wanted to do?"
For her, softball was all she'd ever known.
Michalczyk began playing at the tender age of 9. And from the moment she strapped on a pair of cleats and high socks, she's been excelling at it.
Instead of throwing her in with children her own age, Michalczyk's father had her completely bypass T-ball and sent her straight to the majors with the big girls.
"I think he thought that it would be tougher and I would learn a little bit quicker," Michalczyk said. "I think he didn't want to baby me seeing I didn't have any experience in it. I just think that's the way he does stuff."
Despite being a few feet shorter and a little younger than most, it was quite obvious early on that her game was far beyond her years - even among the older children.
And while softball may not have been her thing early on - she secretly dreamt of playing basketball for UConn or Tennessee - Michalczyk jokes that she stopped growing and soon fell in love with the sport.
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