Radnor left fielder Megan McGrath is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week
The senior left fielder has been the primary power source for the Red Raiders this spring, batting .482 with 27 hits, 14 RBIs and six extra base hits as of May 16, while excelling defensively in left field. She was a second team All-Delco, All-Central League and All-Main Line softball selection last spring, and played on the Delco Carpenter Cup team. She’s been playing travel softball since seventh grade, as a catcher and outfielder. The Smith College-bound senior is a National Honor Society member and plays several instruments for Radnor’s high school bands.
Q: Radnor softball head coach John Schaefer mentioned that you’re a great defensive left fielder. What do you think is the biggest key to playing defense in left field, as compared to right field or center field?
A: I think that the biggest key to playing defense in left field is just to constantly be ready for the ball and know exactly where to throw it after I field it. While I would do both of those things in center field and right field, it is even more important to be prepared for the ball in left field, as many girls like to pull the ball down the left field line, making so many more plays happen in left and left-center than any where else in the outfield.
Q: Where do you usually bat in the lineup? Does your batting approach change when you are moved up or down in the lineup order?
A: Usually I bat in the middle of the lineup, particularly in the third spot, but I have also batted as lead-off and in the sixth spot. Personally, my batting approach does not change depending on where I am in the lineup order, but changes more depending on the situation. For example, when I am leading off, either for the game or just for that inning, I do what I can to get on base because we need base runners, but if there are runners on base, then my job is to try and move them in any way that I can, so that they can score.
Q: What do you think is the strongest part of your game? What part of your game are you working on the most currently?
A: I think the strongest part of my game right now is my hitting, which I have constantly worked hard on to get to be at the point it is at now, and I am still trying to improve on it. Right now, I am still working on making sure that I am completely readjusted to playing in left field, because I have transitioned back to the outfield after being a catcher earlier in the season.
Q: Tell us a little about your pre-game preparation the day of a game.
A: During the day of the game, I typically just try to get through with as little stress as possible, which can sometimes be a challenge with school, especially if I have tests or projects that day. I also try to listen to music throughout the day that will help me to get pumped up for the game, as I almost always have one of those songs stuck in my head during the game itself. Then, in the pre-game warm-ups, I always try to clear out my head with everything that happened earlier in the day, stretch out as much as I can, and, finally, go through warm-ups with the same mentality that I would go through a game.
Q: You wear uniform jersey No. 13 for Radnor. Is there a reason you chose that number – does it hold any significance to you?
A: My birthday is on the 13th, which is definitely one of the reasons I like to wear that number. But more importantly, my mom’s parents came over from Italy and the number 13 is a lucky number for Italians and, being very in touch with my heritage, I wear 13 to give me a little bit of luck in each game.
Q: What (to you) has been the most memorable moment of your Radnor softball career?
A: The most memorable moment of my softball career at Radnor is hitting my first over-the-fence home run against Conestoga early in the season of my junior year. Many of the schools we play at during the season don’t have fences, so it was very cool to play on a field with a fence and then actually hit a ball over it. It was maybe only 30 degrees when we played that game, so everyone was just trying to get through the game. However, once I hit the home run, our team rallied and ended up winning the game, and it became one of the many great wins in my Radnor High School career.
Q: What was your most memorable experience as a member of the Delco Carpenter Cup team – can you share it with us?
A: My most memorable experience while playing Carpenter Cup last year was just getting to know a lot of the girls better. All the girls I played with were girls that I had played against during school ball and sometimes even during travel ball, so it was nice to be able to get to know a little more about them instead of just knowing them as a name and number.
Q: Who have been your biggest softball mentors, and what was the most important thing each of them taught you?
A: I think that my biggest softball mentor is my dad, who has coached me since I was in Little League and, when he wasn’t coaching me, has come to nearly every one of my games. My dad has taught me a lot of what I know now and has helped me to push myself to keep improving. He has helped me find many coaches to help me improve and has come with me to travel teams where I have been with many players and coaches who have helped me to grow into the player that I am today. Overall, I know that I wouldn’t be as strong a player as I have become without my dad’s encouragement and constant help.
Q: You’ve been playing travel softball since seventh grade, and have played on the Newtown Square Rebels, Delco Chaos, Delco Diamonds, and will be playing for the Black Widows this summer as both an outfielder and a catcher. What do you like best about playing catcher?
A: While I do like to play in the outfield, I also really enjoy playing catcher. My favorite parts of catching are definitely studying hitters and working with the pitchers. The first time through the other team’s lineup, I try to make mental notes about pitches their batters like and and don’t like, as well as where they like to hit the ball, which I can later use to help out my pitcher and my coach by letting them know what I’ve learned. Talking to the pitchers about what is working for them and keeping them relaxed and focused is also something I like to try to do.
Q: Why did you choose Smith College? What do you think you might want to major in? Is there a particular career path that interests you at the present time?
A: I chose Smith College because it had so much to offer academically as well as having an environment and culture that I really enjoyed. I am excited to be playing [softball] there next season, as everyone on the team was so welcoming and made me feel like I was already a part of their family. At the moment, I am thinking about majoring in engineering, most likely systems and computer engineering as both my parents are computer engineers and I find what they do to be very interesting.
Q: What instrument(s) do you play for Radnor’s bands? What is your favorite performance song? Do you participate in any other extracurricular activities at Radnor?
A: I play the French horn for Radnor’s concert band and the mellophone for Radnor’s marching band. I think my favorite performance song in band is actually “Jai Ho”, which we play for stand music at end of football games. I have a lot of fond memories from watching Radnor play some great football games and being in the stands with my friends in band and playing that song. Along with Band and National Honors Society, I have also participated in Radnor’s Speak Up program, which allows students and parents to talk about current issues facing students.
Fun facts – Megan McGrath
Favorite book: The Princess Bride by William Goldman.
Favorite TV show: How to Get Away with Murder.
Favorite movie: Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Favorite pre-game pump-up song: Shatter Me by Lindsay Stirling.
Favorite team: Philadelphia Phillies.
Favorite place to visit: Washington, D.C.
Favorite pre-game meal: Bagel.
Favorite color: Purple.
(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be selected by her coach.)
