Dual-Threat Milena Calixto Leads Lady Sharks

Pitcher Milena Calixto was a one-person wrecking ball for the Lady Sharks baseball team last year.

The 5-foot-9 sophomore from Brazil, who was named the National Junior College Athletic Association Pitcher of the Year in 2014, while compiling an impressive 20-8 record and a sterling 1.05 ERA, also played first base and had a .315 batting average with four home runs, 22 RBI and  a .483 slugging percentage.

Calixto dazzled with her control, walking only 19 batters in 186 innings pitched. Even more impressive is the fact that Calixto, who has earned a scholarship to the University of Central Florida for next year, played in every single inning for the Lady Sharks last year while the team won 29 games and was named Co-Southern Conference Champions.

Despite the personal accolades, Calixto is focused more on team-oriented goals.

“I want us to win States and play in Nationals,” Calixto said.

Head Softball  Coach, Gina De Aguero, said she expects to have depth this year, with 21 players on the team, the most she has had at MDC.

“I have some kids that can come in and provide some pinch hits, runs, and that can play different positions, which can help us for back-to-back games” De Aguero said.

The roster also includes six returning players from last year’s 2014 Southern Conference Championship squad. 

“Its good to have a little bit of the older atmosphere,” De Aguero said. “They know what it takes to win their conference, and they know what it takes to actually go to States and win.”

One of the new faces on the team is freshman outfielder, Anastasiia Miliaeva, who is from Moscow, Russia. Miliaeva was part of the Under-16 European National Championship team in 2009.

The Lady Sharks believe they are poised for another successful run this season. They have been wearing T-Shirts  in practice  with the word “leadership” emblazoned on them.  

“We have a lot of players that bring leadership,” De Aguero said. “When you have players that want to be leaders and they carry themselves like [one] on the field, the other kids follow that.”

It is an example that De Aguero said is prevalent on the team.

“The attitude overall of the team is positive, they work hard; there is not much more I