In 2018, The Aragon Outlook named Megan Grant a “softball superstar.” The then-freshman committed to the University of California, Los Angeles and went on to help Aragon’s varsity softball team dominate as a shortstop. This past June, the senior became one of 18 players to land a place in Team U.S.A’s U-18 Women’s National Team.
Grant’s softball journey began when she joined the West Bay Warriors, a Bay Area softball team based in San Mateo, at age 12. She had already played baseball for seven years by then and the coaches immediately saw her potential. Coach Kelly McDonald, who runs the organization with her dad, vividly recounted when she first met Grant.
“She was like a gift from God,” McDonald said. “Just the way [she swung] … we knew right away [that she was] … something special.”
The West Bay Warriors significantly helped Grant grow to her full potential. McDonald worked with Grant on the mental side of the game in order to help her succeed.
“The only thing that was gonna prevent her from being great was her own mind,” McDonald said. “If you’re not mentally tough enough, this game will chew you up and spit you out. … When you recognize the greatness in Megan, you … have no choice but to hold her accountable when she starts.”
McDonald and Grant immediately clicked in the beginning, but the friendship also made it challenging in terms of helping young Grant realize softball was a game of overcoming failures. McDonald needed to draw the line somewhere.
“I was … very hard on her … when she would act out,” McDonald said. “We get along so well, and then all of a sudden, it would be almost like a shock to her. Like, ‘Why are you coming after me so hard?’”
The coaches also tried to help Grant showcase her abilities to as many people as possible.
“[It’s our] … job to make sure that [her] talent [is not] hidden in [San Mateo],” McDonald said. “[We] worked really hard to enter the absolute best tournaments that we can. We fly all across the [country].”
“I think that she will go down as one of the greatest softball players of all time”
These efforts paid off and resulted in Grant’s unusual recruiting journey. In the summer of 2017, months after she joined the Warriors in January, the U-12 team won seventh place at the Premier Girls Fastpitch Nationals. Grant was not yet a high schooler when she got her first phone call from Washington University, currently one of the top 10 colleges in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Softball Rankings. But the coaches wanted her to aim even higher.
“My dad [was like], ‘[UCLA] won the national championship,’” McDonald said. “‘They’re the number one team, she’s the number one player, [so] she has to be in front of them.’ [After nationals], she actually said, ‘Okay, Washington’s here, when does UCLA get to watch me?’ [Six] … months later, she’s at a UCLA camp.”
At the beginning of 2018, Grant committed to UCLA with a full-ride scholarship after being noticed for her skill at a camp. Usually, scouts go to both camps and games.
“I … wasn’t even at the camp,” said Grant’s mom. “I sent her with my oldest son, and I just told him, … ‘I don’t think [anything is] gonna happen. But if [the coaches] want to talk to someone at the end, you’re going to represent her. [Then] he … called me [and] … said [that] they want [me and Megan] to come to the next [week’s] camp.”
After being called back to a second camp, Grant was in. Being committed at such a young age, however, comes with pressure and responsibility.
“Everyone kind of knows you,” Grant said. “They expect you to do good every time. Your name is known before you even walk into the room.”
Fortunately, Grant’s close bond with McDonald helps her cope with those expectations.
“We both pick up each other’s energy to the point where … if I’m having an off day coaching, she’s like that mirror that I can’t avoid,” McDonald said. “Similarly … she wears her emotion … We [are] always talking [and] … working on her communication skills.”
Having McDonald as a coach makes it easy for Grant to openly express her feelings.
“[She’s] … someone who I could count on [to be] real and honest with me,” Grant said. “She’s [my] ride or die.”
As a student-athlete, Grant pushes her limits to make the people around her proud.
“Of course she hits every day, [but] I’m talking like waking up at 6 a.m. going to a workout, then going to hit,” McDonald said. “She totally changed her diet. She gets all her homework done … [and] she just does not let herself slip.”
“Your name is known before you even walk into the room”
The combination of talent, support and dedication allowed Grant to be selected to participate at the Oklahoma trials for a spot on the U.S.A. U-18 Women’s Softball team. The trials took place in the U.S.A. Softball Hall of Fame Complex. Players completed various position drills on the first day and scrimmages on the second day. Despite being an extremely competitive event, the atmosphere and people were very friendly and welcoming.
“Coming in, I didn’t think I was gonna … come out with so many friends,” Grant said. “Just being with the other girls made it so much sweeter.”
The trials were challenging, but Grant’s coach supported her throughout the process.
“I was like, ‘These pitchers are good,” Grant said. “What’s the mindset going in? And how should I adjust to how good they’re pitching? She just told me to … be calm because whenever I’m calm, things are good for me.”
Not giving too much thought to the results, Grant was pleasantly surprised when she learned she had been accepted onto the national team. Her family couldn’t have been more proud of her.
“It’s very surreal … that she’ll be representing the U.S.A.,” Grant’s mother said. “It’s an amazing opportunity for her. … I get so emotional every time I think about it.” Grant also reflected on everything that led up to this special achievement.
“When I first started playing, I would … say kind of as a joke, ‘I want to make the U.S.A. team,’” Grant said. “I did not expect [it] to come [before] college.”
Seeing Grant’s determination and dedication to softball firsthand, McDonald has a lot of confidence in Grant and what lies ahead of her.
“I hope that there’s an opportunity for her to play professional ball [and] … I think that she will go down as one of the greatest softball players of all time,” McDonald said.
The national team will be competing in Lima, Peru at the World Baseball Softball Confederation U-18 World Cup and in Cali, Colombia at the Junior Pan American Games. Grant is not yet certain where her softball passion will take her. However, for now, she will proudly represent the U.S.A.
