At the beginning of August, STLhighschoolsports.com named Megan Clince, junior, one of the top 30 high school softball players to watch. Last season she hit a .423 batting average with 4 doubles, 2 home runs and 21 RBIs, and the softball team had a record of 20-5. Clince started playing softball when she was in first grade, but after her first year she switched to baseball.

She continued to play baseball with an all boys team until seventh grade when she played both. “I didn’t like the level of softball offered,” Clince said. “I loved baseball, but eventually I realized I couldn’t play in high school, so I switched to softball to prepare for high school.” She eventually joined the Prospects softball team in eighth grade to start her competitive softball career.

“It took a few years to get used to softball, but it ended up working out because I love it,” Clince said.

Clince has played on the MHS varsity team as a center fielder since her freshman year. Molly Clince, Megan’s mother, has directly coached or helped coach every team Megan has played on.

“I try to help her with mechanics when she asks, provide her with a safe place to vent, and offer guidance about the game and life,” Molly said.

Molly said Megan’s biggest strength is her heart.

“Megan has a heart for the game,” Molly said. “She loves what she does as well as her teammates. She has a respect for the game you don’t see in many people her age.”

In July of 2013 at Nationals, Megan was diving for a ball in center field, and she fractured the middle of her vertebrae. Technically speaking, she suffered a pars defect in her L5 vertebrae. In October of 2013, Megan slid into second base, and she was run over by the shortstop player. That led to a broken nose, a broken finger and a severe concussion.

“Megan has persevered through all of these injuries to become a better player,” Molly said. “She works everyday to stay in playing shape and knows that it can all end at a moments notice, so she works to prevent that from happening.”

Molly said she is so proud of her daughter for her recognition on the list of the top high school softball players to watch.

“Megan has worked hard to earn this recognition, and I know she will continue to work hard to live up to the recognition and make Marquette proud,” Molly said.

Now, Megan considers herself one of the leaders on the MHS team.

“I think I add a sense of structure and an ‘out for blood’ mentality when we step on the field,” Megan said.

Megan is glad she can positively represent MHS softball.

“I was first team All District, first team All Conference, and first team All Metro,” Megan said. “With these accomplishments combined, I stood out among others from within my position, and also with my back injury last season, I overcame that adversity and pushed through to show I am a true competitor on this team.”

Megan said this recognition makes her work harder on and off the field to become a better player and person. She is considering playing softball in college even though it takes major dedication and hard work to balance softball and school.

“It takes a strong mind to deal with both softball and school at the same time, so that would be a struggle but I think I could manage,” Megan said.

Coach Chris Meador, the varsity softball coach, said Megan deserves the honor and recognition she received.

“She has matured as a player with leadership, but she has challenged herself to work constantly to make herself the best player she can,” Coach Meador said.

Coach Meador said that based on Megan’s performance, no one would have known she was injured. She had to do a lot of treatment to keep playing.

“I think her back still bothers her sometimes, but it is good to have her back close to 100 percent,” Coach Meador said.