AACC Star Pitcher Receives National Recognition

An sophomore leads the state in softball strikeouts, but this is her last season with the team.

Elaine Nescio, the Pioneers’ star pitcher, was recognized as player of the month in March by the Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference, as well as the on March 14.

I'd heard so much about Nescio over the past month that I reached out for a quick interview through Twitter, and she happily accepted.

Nescio, 21, was modest about her success, saying she was honored but attributed her success to the support of her team.

“The pitchers kind of get recognized more because they’re the center of attention, but I wouldn’t be doing as well if my team wasn’t doing well," Nescio said.

Nescio spoke highly of her team, saying that they were driven to make it to nationals this year. The team made it through regionals and placed eighth in the national tournament in 2011.

Nescio said she has been attracted to the pitcher’s mound since she was 7 years old, watching games with her sisters. There was a star pitcher she grew up watching, and she said she wanted to be just like her. She also liked that the position lets her feel in control of the game.

“You have a say in how the game goes,” she said. “But I just wanted to be just like her. I started pitching and loved every second of it, and I’ve never wanted to play another position since.”

When she’s not studying for classes or playing softball, Nescio is a waitress part time at a restaurant in downtown Annapolis.

She said she’s grown close to the Pioneers since she started playing but she graduates in May, and she’ll set her career on another school sometime soon.

“I’d like to continue playing, I’m just not sure where I’ll be going next year,” she said.