January 19, 2025
Sports

Suburban Life Most Valuable Athlete: Maddy Wallace, Lemont, sophomore, softball

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WHY SHE WAS SELECTED:

Maddy Wallace struck out 13 batters and allowed just four hits in a 6-2 win over Bremen, and struck out 11 in a win over Oak Lawn.

Wallace talked about the week, the season and more with Suburban Life sports editor Joshua Welge. Here is an edited version of the transcript:

Welge: It seemed like you had a very good week, and a very busy week, right?

Wallace: We had lots of games. We played a bunch of conference games. We know conference is important, we put our best foot forward. We came in strong and confident. I threw my best.

Welge: What was the key to your success?

Wallace: My goal was thinking first pitch strike, think about the next pitch and not the last one. That's what got me in a groove. It was the rhythm between me and my catcher, the bond between us.

Welge: What's your best pitch?

Wallace: My best pitch is probably my curveball. I like to go outside on batters and then work my way back in. I go up the ladder with my riseball. I get batters to start chasing and then go higher and higher.

Welge: What is "Ellie Strong? I see that on your team's Twitter page a lot.

Wallace: Ellie was a freshman who recently died of a brain tumor. Our school started "Ellie Strong." We fundraise for her, represent her on Facebook, we wear our "Ellie Strong" shirts.

Welge: How did you start playing softball?

Wallace: My dad was kind of a big baseball fan, and he introduced me to softball. It was something I enjoyed, I practiced on my own and found my love for the sport.

Welge: Do you watch sports?

Wallace: I follow on Instagram many softball accounts, and I watch pitchers on YouTube to see what they have, to see people better than me to look up to try to improve my stuff.

Welge: What's your faovrite TV show?

Wallace: Grey's Anatomy. I love watching doctor shows.

Welge: Favorite movie?

Wallace: I really like the Sandlot. It makes me think of sports.

Welge: Favorite subject in school?

Wallace: Probably math. I really like math a lot. I understand it well.