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Poland’s Miokovic makes her pitch
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After three seasons at first base where she helped the Bulldogs to a Division II state title (2011), Poland’s Taylor Miokovic is pitching this season. She is off to a 6-1 start and has a scholarship to Eastern Illinois.
Poland left-hander moves over from first base to her first love
By Tom Williams
POLAND
Two things that Poland senior Taylor Miokovic enjoys are playing softball and working out. After games, she’s usually lifting weights or running.
Or both.
“It’s seven days a week — I rarely take a day off,” the four-year varsity starter said of her workout regimen. “After my games, I usually go to the Y and work out for two hours.”
This season is different for Miokovic, the Bulldogs’ first baseman when they won the Division II state title in 2011. After three seasons manning first base, the left-hander is pitching.
She’s off to a 6-1 start,
“Definitely, her time is now,” Poland head coach Matt Campbell said. “She’s a great first baseman. I know she was a little discouraged last year as she didn’t get as much of an opportunity to pitch as she [wanted].
“She has waited for her time,” Campbell said. “I’ve never seen a girl work as hard.”
Pitching is nothing new to Miokovic, who has a scholarship to Eastern Illinois.
“She truly bleeds softball,” Campbell said. “When we have shorter practices, she’ll ask for extra batting practice.”
Miokovic was 7 when she started pitching. That’s the position she plays in her summer travel ball games.
“I’m going on my 10th year,” Miokovic said. “I’ve always wanted to pitch, but I understood my job was to play first base.”
Last season, Kacie Serich and Aleah Hughes primarily replaced Erin Gabriel (University of Tennessee) and Jenna Modic (Miami of Ohio) as the Bulldogs’ pitchers. Serich graduated and Hughes transferred to Western Reserve.
“Getting this first opportunity for [high school] pitching is motivating because it’s [my] last chance,” Miokovic said.
Moving over from first base created “a different pressure. It’s a lot different because you’re more the center of the game.”
Helping Miokovic adjust is Marissa Bartholomew Davies, Poland’s new pitching coach, who was the pitcher when Boardman won the Division I state championship in 2001. Dom DeLuca, Poland’s long-time pitching coach, retired after last season.
Years ago, Miokovic took pitching lessons from Bartholomew.
“She went to the same pitching coach [Mark Pizzuto] I go to now, so that’s been a big help,” Miokovic said.
As her countdown to college continues, Miokovic realizes how fortunate she has been to have played two seasons for Coach Reid Lamport, as well as with Gabriel and Modic.
“Going into high school, I was a shy, timid kid,” Miokovic said. “I remember him telling Erin and Jenna, ‘You have Taylor.’ ”
Miokovic hit in the fifth position then, right behind Gabriel and Modic. She contributed almost immediately.
“They taught me a lot, I still talk with them for pointers,” Miokovic said. “I can remember at the state championship game, [they’re] calming me down before hitting the RBI to win the game.
“They’ve always been there for me, telling me that I could do this. If it wasn’t for them, I probably wouldn’t be the player that I am today.”
As for Lamport, Miokovic said, “He really brought out the competitive side of me. He showed me that I was able to do this.”
Miokovic’s journey to Eastern Illinois in Charleston, Ill., was not direct. As a freshman she committed to Cleveland State. But when Vikings coach Angie Nicholson took the Eastern Illinois job in 2013, Miokovic switched.
“They offered me the same to go there,” Miokovic said. “Then I visited the campus — I loved it.
“It’s a bigger school, better competition,” Miokovic said. “My first game will be against Alabama, so I couldn’t really pass it up.”