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Small player has big plans

Petite junior second baseman Mettina Maggiore expects to build on her career

By DAWN REISS
Published July 20, 2005

with transfer to Eckerd.

INVERNESS - Mettina Maggiore knows she is small.

Pushing 5-foot-3 and 115 pounds, Maggiore always has heard comments about her size.

At Citrus High, she played shortstop until Maggiore said she was told she was too short and switched to second base. At Young Harris (Ga.) College, her petite frame led to the team nicknaming her "Mini Me."

But Maggiore, 20, has parlayed her stature into post high school success - as a two-year starter with the Lions and now as an incoming junior at Eckerd College, an NCAA Division II program.

"I love it," Maggiore said of her transfer to Eckerd. "This is where I'm supposed to be."

Maggiore wasn't sure if she would get the chance to play in college.

Young Harris had a stellar season her freshman year. The Lions captured the GJCAA State championship and tied for ninth in the 2004 NJCAA World Series.

"In the regional tournament, she made some great defensive plays" Young Harris coach Eric Geldart said. "She's really improved her game awareness."

This past season fell short of Maggiore's first.

"We didn't do as well as we should have," Maggiore said. "It felt like we weren't as much as a team this year.

"My freshman year, we all wanted each other to do good. This year, so many girls were fighting and didn't want anyone to be better than them," she said. "It wasn't my favorite year I can tell you that."

But that didn't stop her from playing.

"She has a great work ethic and attitude," Young Harris assistant coach Danny Rubio said. "She brought it to the field, to practice or the game every single day and motivated other players around here.

"She is one of the hardest working players on the roster. She was liked by all. They all respected her. She will make a great impact (at Eckerd)."

Maggiore always has been a strong defensive player who struggled with hitting. The switch hitter's swing was long, and she came around the ball too much.

She is known for soft hands and good range, but the batting always came back to haunt her.

Maggiore worried her college career was going to be over after she graduated from Young Harris this spring with an associates degree in business.

That's when former Citrus teammate and North Carolina catcher/outfielder Whitney Gelin suggested Maggiore meet with her batting coach in Chapel Hill, N.C.

As a college freshman, Maggiore batted in the No. 2 slot as a lefty. But after meeting with Gelin's coach, Maggiore switched back to hitting from the right side.

"It helped me a lot," Maggiore said. "I feel like I hit the ball 50 times harder now."

But she wasn't sure it was enough to secure a roster spot at a four-year university.

Maggiore had hoped to play at UCF, but nothing seemed to come through.

That's when former Citrus player Katie Wilson overheard Maggiore's younger sister, Natasha, at a Hurricanes practice talking about Maggiore's dilemma. Wilson suggested Eckerd College to her.

"I knew I wanted to come back to Florida because of the weather," Maggiore said. "I could never get used to the cold weather.

"I felt like I was so restricted and weighed 1,000 pounds with all those layers on. I was miserable every time I had to hit.

"I had a heating blanket on all year long," she said. "I'd take steamy showers right after practice and run into bed. I'd tell my friend to come into my room so I could get under my blankets, and I'd do my homework in my bed just to keep warm."

Eckerd coach Kristie Delk was interested in Maggiore. Yet every time Delk was suppose to watch her play, the Triton's games got rained out, postponing their visit.

"I almost gave up," Maggiore said. "Finally, one day I called her and said, "If I'm not going to play there, then I need to know because I'll be a student at UCF and try to walk-on instead.' "

Delk reassured Maggiore she will be an integral part of the Tritons' lineup.

"She said I have pretty big plans for you," Maggiore said. "And I have big plans for going there.

"It was a relief. I wasn't ready to give up softball, and I thought I was going to have to. I feel like I haven't peaked yet. This could be the year."

Maggiore is learning even more about the sport this summer by helping coach her younger sister, Marissa, on a 15-16 Inverness All-Stars team with their father, Pete.

"Coaching helps a lot as a player," Maggiore said. "I'm constantly reminded of the little details I'm teaching that I need to do."

Dawn Reiss can be reached at 352 564-3628 or dreiss@sptimes.com

[Last modified July 20, 2005, 00:57:15]