Makenna Reid finding a rhythm with Florida State softball
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (BVM) – Florida State softball is one of the top teams in the nation. The Seminoles have been playing well and are building something special as they try to get to the Women’s College World Series. Freshman Makenna Reid has been doing her part, heading down to Tallahassee from her home in Tigard, Oregon right after her senior softball season was over last summer.
“The summer was definitely pretty hard, like physically, mentally just training with Coach all summer by myself and having to mature pretty fast,” Reid said.
Reid came in as one of the best pitchers in the country for the Class of 2022. In her senior year at Tigard High School, she broke an OSAA state championship record by striking out 21 batters over 10 innings to get the Tigers a state championship. However, her time with the Seminoles has opened her eyes to the next level of softball.
In particular, the planning and preparation that goes into being ready for a game. Reid has become an even better student of the game and the extra preparation is helping her compete.
“Definitely makes me think I wish I would’ve done this sooner or known these certain things about hitters before,” Reid said. “It definitely gives more information before you even go out there and a plan of attack. It just makes me feel a little bit more confident.”
The confidence helps when you’re pitching important innings as a freshman. Florida State wanted Reid to be a contributor right from the start which is why she came to campus so early last summer. Now, she’s in the Seminoles’ bullpen and getting comfortable being a relief pitcher.
In her first appearance in a collegiate game against Lipscomb, she pitched three innings and got the win.
“It was pretty cool,” Reid said. “Since it was a home game, I got to feel the whole walk out song and the fans.”
Since then, the Seminoles freshman pitcher has pitched in 25 innings with 43 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.68.
“It was definitely a lot to begin with but now I feel like I’m getting into the right groove,” Reid said.
With conference play starting up, Florida State needs her in that groove. Redshirt senior Kat Sandercock is the Seminoles’ ace but behind her is a group of pitchers that are still getting into form. Reid is one of those pitchers.
She’s shown her potential, and in the Seminoles first game of three against Oklahoma State, Reid came in relief for 1 ⅓ innings. She got the win against the Cowgirls, one of the top three teams in the nation. Earlier in the season, she came in for three innings against No. 4 Arkansas and dealt out nine strikeouts to help FSU get the win over the Razorbacks.
“I feel good,” Reid said.
She’ll feel better as the season goes on. Reid has worked hard to get to this point but never forgets who’s helped her get here.
“The support from my dad has been unimaginable,” Reid said. “The support from our trainers, our nutritionist Jackie, everyone just coming together has been amazing and part of my success as well.”
Reid has always been extremely close with her family. Her dad got her into softball and her grandmother went to all of her games when she was in Oregon. She has another grandma in Florida that comes to games now and even though they’re on the other side of the country, Reid knows her family is watching every single one of her games.
Her dad and both grandmothers even came to the 2023 TaxAct Clearwater Invitational in Clearwater, Fla. They got to see her game against Arkansas as well as some of the other best programs in the nation.
“It was like a little family reunion,” Reid said.
With her family cheering her on and the support of her new family at Florida State, Reid is finding her way on this talented Seminoles team. She is someone to pay attention to this year and for years to come as the Seminoles try to stay one of the best softball programs in the country.
