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This summer, Alexis Mack is working for her former club coach, Bill Conroy, and helping out with the Beverly Bandits events including the upcoming “Empowering Girls for Life” Convention to be held August 10-12 in the Chicago area.
Alexis, who did play-by-play for some of the live streaming of the DeMarini Invitationals Showcase that concluded last Sunday, will be serve as the emcee at the convention.
“I’ve never done anything like that, no, and am a little nervous as it’s a new opportunity to see if I’m good at and like something. Originally, I wanted to go into broadcasting, before I declared for P.R. (Public Relations), and I really enjoy public speaking–it’s something that’s always came natural to me so I’m excited.”
The Ohio native who grew up about 15 minutes outside Cleveland, is heading into her senior season at Oregon, just as other former Bandits have including current standouts like Miranda Elish, Jenna Lilley and Lauren Burke.
Alexis didn’t begin her colors in the Eugene green, but instead played her freshman season at South Carolina before transferring from one coast to another.
Last season, her first in the Pac-12, she hit a team-high .424 which was second in the conference and led the Pac-12 with 28 steals to earn 1st Team Pacific All-Region and 2nd Team All-Pac-12, both of which she repeated this year.
As a senior in 2018, the outfielder used her great speed to hit .369 which was second on the team and her 24 steals lead the Ducks.
But big numbers aren’t unusual for the lefty hitter, who played second base for Brecksville (Ohio) High and didn’t start in the outfield until last year at Oregon.
Alexis finished her high school career as an All-American and three-time 1st Team NFCA All-Region pick as well as earning 1st Team All-State for three years.
And she finished her senior season in 2015 ranking first all-time in Ohio history with 79 steals in a single season and 234 career steals.
Her .682 batting average that year still ranks 8th all-time in Ohio high school history and her 73 hits both her senior and junior campaigns ties her for 2nd best all-time in the state.
On the club side, she helped the Bandits 16U win the PGF National Championship in 2013 behind pitcher Miranda Elish and the team finished 3rd at PGF Nationals 18U in 2014.
Just as Jenna Lilley did from Northern Ohio and Taran Alvelo (Washington) did from Southern Ohio, Alexis would drive with her father and Jenna and sometimes Taran the six hours each way to practice with the Bandits each weekend.
Was it worth it?
Said her father, Rex, who still coaches with the Bandits today: “If she hadn’t played for the Bandits,” he believes, “she wouldn’t have gotten the exposure.”
“It’s been such a great life lesson, you work hard, you make sacrifices—like she didn’t go to a football game or dance at all last year—you work your tail off and drives these distances and then you achieve something as amazing as a national championship.”
“I get the pleasure of spending the driving time with them quite often,” he said back in when Alexis was a high school senior in 2014-15.
“Believe me, you would really like to be a fly on the wall during some of the girls’ conversations! Thank goodness for internet access in the car to get homework done, too!”
Extra Inning Softball caught up with Alexis today to get the latest, here’s what she had to say…
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What’s been keeping you most busy this summer?
Every day I wake up at 6:15 am and do a strength & conditioning program designed by Oregon, it takes about an hour, and then I go to work from 9 am to 4 pm Monday and Thursday. I’m interning for the Empowering Girls for Life event and the company Corcoran Exposition that’s helping run the convention. After work, I walk 30 minutes from home to the gym to lift for an hour and then walk home.
Anyone at the Empowering Girls for Life Convention you’re particularly excited to meet?
I’m pretty excited to meet Laurie Hernandez youth, she’s a gymnast who won a Gold Medal at the 2016 Olympics and what she did is inspiring, but pretty much everybody is impressive and I can’t wait to talk to them! For example, Saira Blair–she’s 19 years old and is the youngest person to ever have a law passed in the U.S. In softball, there’s Jenna Finch and Stacey Nuveman because they’re legends and all they’ve done for the game.
What has been a highlight of your two years at Oregon?
Going to the Word Series, twice. It’s just an unbelievable experience, being with the people I like–I love my teammates and coaches–and getting on the biggest softball stage surrounded with my best friends is just unreal. Personally, making the All-World Series team was really cool, but I couldn’t have done that if we didn’t make the World Series as a team.
What are your thoughts about Mike White leaving Oregon to go to Texas and Melyssa Lombardi being named this week as the new Ducks head coach?
The bottom line is it’s not something I can control and, honestly, I didn’t go to Oregon for the coaches necessarily, but the players, the school and the people I’ll be around. It sucks they’re leaving, but I look it as it’s great that I get three perspectives of working with great coaches and their staffs. And if anyone knows what it’s like to go through a coaching change it’s me!
Have you had a chance to talk to Coach Lombardi yet?
I talked to her couple times and my first impression was that she’s very genuine and cares about her players, not just as softball players but as people. I talked to her literally within five minutes after the press conference when she was introduced; I reached out immediately to introduce myself and we talked more in-depth the next morning.
Looking back on your 16U PGF Championship with the Bandits in 2013, what stands out most in your mind?
Miranda (Elish). So often in practice and in games I can still see in my mind the 15-year-old Alexis and 16-year-old Miranda in the circle as we were back then. She’s the best competitor I’ve ever played with my entire softball career and that team showed me you don’t have to be the most talented, but if you have great chemistry you can win championships.
How about on the high school level… you set state records in steals and had such a great senior season especially. Is there one record in particular that stands out to you?
One record I remember is not making it to the State Finals in my four years (laughs)! We made it to the Final Eight twice, but my greatest memory would be not the batting averages and steal records, but being coached by my dad. He was the head coach my four years there and is till the head coach. I also really cared about a lot of those girls as friends and sisters and playing with them was really the first time I learned to be a leader.
What do you want to be doing once you finish up your softball career next year in Eugene?
I have it planned it–I’m a planner!–I want to be a grad coach and go to journalism school and get a Master’s degree.