NEW YORK -- San Diego State Maggie Balint (West Grove, Pa.) was one of 13 athletes chosen in the 2022 Athletes Unlimited Softball Draft Class, which was announced Wednesday as part of the espnW Summit in New York.
Athletes Unlimited Softball begins this summer with a two-week competition called AUX Softball, which will take place June 13-25, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Title IX on June 23. AUX Softball will feature 42 athletes playing 18 games at SDSU Softball Stadium with all 18 games broadcast live exclusively on ESPN platforms. The championship season of Athletes Unlimited Softball will take place from July 29 to Aug. 28 in the Chicago area at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Illinois with all games to be broadcast on ESPN platforms.
"With increasing demand from athletes around the world to compete in Athletes Unlimited Softball, we can only invite the very best of the best from the college ranks this year, so our Softball Player Executive Committee has been hard at work narrowing our list to these 13 amazing players," said Victoria Hayward, chair of the Athletes Unlimited Softball Player Executive Committee. "In addition to world-class competition, the player experience in Athletes Unlimited is second to none, so we hope all of these tremendous players decide to join the Athletes Unlimited family."
"Between our innovative and progressive player programs, the ability to play professionally close to home and now live coverage on ESPN, we believe that the opportunity and the platform Athletes Unlimited is offering these young athletes is truly unparalleled," said Jon Patricof, CEO and Co-Founder of Athletes Unlimited. "With the launch of our inaugural Softball AUX league in June in addition to our third Softball championship season, this summer is shaping up to be our most exciting yet!"
Balint is 15-5 with six saves and a 1.48 ERA on the season, striking out 232 against 33 walks, while limiting her opponents to a .176 average. Among the national leaders, Balint is tied for second in saves (6), 14th in strikeouts (232) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.03), 15th in strikeouts per seven innings (10.73), tied for 22nd in ERA (1.48) and 35th in hits allowed per seven innings (4.44). Balint, who has won eight of the 12 pitcher-of-the-week awards handed out by the Mountain West, also ranks first in Aztec single-season history this year in strikeouts per seven innings (10.73), tied for first in saves (6), third in strikeouts (232), tied for third in winning percentage (.750), fourth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.03) and opponent average (.176), eighth in WHIP (0.85) and 10th in hits allowed per seven innings (4.44).
The 13 draftees were each introduced by either a member of the Athletes Unlimited Softball Player Executive Committee or one of several special guest. Balint was announced by the 2021 Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Carrie Eberle.
The rest of the class included Hannah Adams (Florida), Jocelyn Alo (Oklahoma), Georgina Corrick (USF), Mia Davidson (Mississippi State), Danielle Gibson (Arkansas), Mary Iakopo (Texas), Janae Jefferson (Texas), Rachel Lewis (Northwestern), Gabbie Plain (Washington), Keely Rochard (Virginia Tech), Sydney Sherrill (Florida State) and Peyton St. George (Duke).
San Diego State (33-12, 16-2 MW) has won all six of its Mountain West series this season and is in first place in the league standings at 16-2, three games ahead of Boise State and UNLV, which are each 13-5 in league play. The Aztecs have already won series against Boise State and UNLV and can clinch the league's automatic bid into the NCAA tournament with a sweep at home against Utah State this weekend regardless of what happens with the Broncos and Rebels. SDSU ends its regular season with a series at New Mexico from May 12-14.
San Diego State and the Aggies (25-24, 10-8 MW) will play 6 p.m. PT Friday, 4 p.m. PT Saturday and noon PT Sunday at SDSU Softball Stadium. Following the game Sunday will be a ceremony honoring the Aztecs' six departing seniors - Taylor Adams, Balint, Jessica Cordola, Alexa Schultz, Danielle Romanello and Nicole Siess.
About Athletes Unlimited
Athletes Unlimited is a new model of pro sports where athletes are decision-makers and individual players are champions of team sports. Athletes Unlimited literally changes the game with faster play and new team rosters every week, delivering next-level competition and engagement in which every moment counts. The first season of women's softball took place in 2020, with the inaugural seasons of women's indoor volleyball and women's lacrosse being completed in 2021, along with season two of softball. We completed our inaugural Basketball league season two of volleyball in 2022 and are slated to host our inaugural AUX Softball league in June followed by second lacrosse and third Championship Softball season in late July. For more information, visit AUProSports.com.