ASU softball pitcher Breanna Macha, right, learns to throw with former Sun Devil Erica Beach.
(Photo courtesy of Breanna Macha)
From the time she was a batgirl for ASU softball at age 9, freshman pitcher Breanna Macha knew she was destined to be a Sun Devil.
Her passion for the game of softball didn't start there, however. Playing T-ball when she was 6 started Macha's interest in the sport, but it wasn't until she was 8 years old that an opportunity arose that would leave an important mark on her softball career.
"I was actually a catcher to begin with," Macha said. "The pitcher wasn't throwing strikes, so (the coaches) were like, 'Bree do you want to give it a try?' and they said that I was just throwing strikes from the get-go."
One year later, Macha found herself in Tempe, working for the Sun Devil softball team as a batgirl. It was at that point that she fell in love with ASU.
"I already loved softball," Macha said. "At 9 years old, I was already thinking, 'I wanna play in college,' and that's when I fell in love with ASU –– the whole family mentality was really big (for me)."
When she was 11 years old, Macha and her family realized that her dream of playing softball in college could very well become a reality.
"There was a tournament in Utah and I got the fastest pitch at 56 (mph) at 11 years old," Macha said. "I think that's when my parents started to figure out that we've gotta keep on working at this."
Macha had an obsession from that point on with getting her speed as high as possible.
"Growing up, I would always go up to my coach and be like, 'How's my speed? How's my speed?'" Macha said. "I was always worried about that."
One thing Macha tried not to worry about was her doubters, which she aimed to prove wrong as she came up the softball ranks.
"People were always doubtful of me growing up because I'm not the typical size for a pitcher," Macha said. "I think that's what really drove me to pitch faster and pitch harder."
Setting herself apart from the crowd was a driving force for Macha, and that mindset presented itself when deciding on what number to wear.
"I started wearing 99 when I was younger," Macha said. "Everyone else had all the small numbers, and I wanted to stand out and have the biggest number there could possibly be."
Macha certainly stood out in her high school career, winning four state championships as the team's ace every year, capping all of that off with Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year honors at the end of her senior season.
A lifelong dream was realized during her sophomore year at Red Mountain High School when, after being named a first team all-purpose All-American by ESPN, she got the call from ASU to come for a visit.
ASU freshman Breanna Macha pitches to Ole Miss, Friday Feb. 6, 2015, at Farrington Stadium in Tempe. The Sun Devils won 6-3. (Krista Tillman/The State Press).
"(The dream) became a reality sophomore year when (ASU) was like, 'Hey, come for a visit'," Macha said. "I'm only a sophomore, so I was so nervous. You're on the phone, and you don't even know what to say."
While Macha may have been rendered speechless on that day, she couldn't say enough about how much she loves the ASU experience now that she's here.
"Being from (Arizona) is cool because I already know people from high school," Macha said. "I'm in the dorms and I see people from high school all the time."
While Macha looks back fondly on her high school career and the friendships she continues to keep, her teammates have developed a sisterhood with her that holds an incredible amount of value.
"We're just a bunch of sisters," Macha said. "Me, Amber (Freeman) and Kelsey (Kessler) went to a concert together. We all hang out."
Macha's time off the field has been plenty of fun so far in this young season, and on the field she continues to adjust to the college game, boasting a 2-2 record with a 3.50 ERA.
In the long term, Macha envisions claiming the ultimate prize during her four years as a Sun Devil.
"In high school, I won all four state championships, and I know that this is another level to take it to," Macha said. "(My goal at ASU) is to get at least one national championship, one fat ring on my finger."
Reach the reporter at rclarke6@asu.edu or on Twitter @RClarkeASU.
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