Tigard’s Makenna Reid is ready to join Florida State softball
TIGARD, Ore. (BVM) – This past November, Tigard High School’s softball ace Makenna Reid made her college selection official and signed her letter of intent to play softball at Florida State University.
“I think signing for me was just kind of like a little step in the way,” Reid said. “It means that you’re official with the university but you still have a lot of work to put in to make it count.”
It was a special moment for Reid and everyone who has helped her on her journey up to this point. She made sure they were all there, including her pet dog, Pen, and her late grandfather. He passed last year, but his picture was on the table when Reid signed her letter of intent.
“It definitely was a cool touch to have him on the table,” Reid said. “He always wanted a grandkid or a kid in the family to play sports and go at a high level with it so I think it was definitely special just having a little memory of him. He would have been so proud if I was going to college and taking care of my college degree through athletics.”
Reid’s father, brother and grandmother were also with her for the signing. Her father was the one who originally got Reid into sports and supported her throughout her softball training. For Reid, he is an inspiration and someone she is glad to have in her corner.
“He raised me and my brother as a single parent, alone for multiple years,” Reid said. “Even through that he always made time to not only work so I could get the chances that I have now, but always catch with me. He’s always at every single game.”
Her grandmother also attends every game, cheering her on and, in Reid’s case, celebrating a win more often than not. Last season, the left-handed pitcher had a 15-2 record with 218 strikeouts in 108 innings of work. She had a 1.10 ERA and held batters to a .129 batting average against.
Those impressive stats earned her an OSAA Class 6A first team all-state selection and the Three Rivers League named her Pitcher of the Year. Unfortunately, Reid and Tigard High School were unable to make a run at state because it was not held due to covid.
However, this year, the OSAA softball state tournament is back and the Tigard Tigers are ready to get back there after making it to the quarterfinals in 2019 when Reid was a freshman on the team.
“I’m just trying right now to honestly take the time with my team and focus on now because I know I will never get these days back,” Reid said.
That time is quickly coming to an end and soon, Reid will be down in Tallahassee getting ready for her freshman year with the Seminoles. Florida State believes Reid can start for them and wants her to come down as soon as possible so that she can prepare for her freshman season.
It is a huge honor for someone joining one of the premier softball programs in the country and Reid has worked hard to earn this opportunity.
“Ever since I was 10, it has pretty much been softball every single day,” Reid said.
Reid developed a love for the game and in particular a love of getting a return on her preparation. Reid is the type of player that will prepare all day for a softball game. She’ll workout, watch college softball and go throw what she wants to accomplish out on the field.
When Reid gets the result she wanted, she feels an immense amount of pride because of how she prepared herself to get that outcome. It’s a big reason for her being named a USSSA All-American in 2015 and 2016. It wasn’t long before colleges started to take notice and reach out to the young, promising pitcher.
“The harder I worked and got better I think it was more evident that I could play at a higher level in college and make it four more years on top of high school,” Reid said.
Originally she committed to NC State, but when she decommitted from the Wolfpack, there was one school she had her eye on: Florida State. The Seminoles began to recruit her and she fell in love with the facilities, players, coaches and culture.
Even though it would take her across the country from Tigard, Ore., to Tallahassee, Fla., it was the right move for Reid. She will get to be one of the players she always sees on TV when watching college softball.
“I think that won’t hit me until I am on that stage,” Reid said.
Until then, she is enjoying every last minute she has as a Tigard Tiger and trying to make one more run at an OSAA softball state championship.