A hands-on approach to life is serving up new opportunities for Mackenzie Borkovich of Indiana Township.
A senior at Fox Chapel Area High School, Borkovich began playing softball and started taekwondo lessons when she was 6 years old.
More than a decade later, she’s a standout pitcher for the Foxes and Ohio Outlaws Garroway teams and holds a fourth-degree black belt in taekwondo.
Borkovich, 17, was scouted by Division I, II and III colleges, including Seton Hill, Youngstown State University, Akron, Niagara, Slippery Rock, Geneva and Bucknell.
After fielding verbal offers from Seton Hill and Geneva, Borkovich said, Slippery Rock appealed to her after she attended a summer high school softball camp on campus last year.
Borkovich recently committed to pitch on Slippery Rock’s Division II softball team.
“I chose Slippery Rock specifically for the physical therapy program, its scholarship and its desirable coaching staff and I wanted to stay close to home,” said Borkovich, the daughter of Jackie and Dan Borkovich.
Borkovich’s mother said she was impressed by Slippery Rock’s head softball head coach, Stacey Rice.
“That coach has been watching her for two years,” Jackie Borkovich said. “The coach had interest in Mackenzie not only as a softball player, but I knew she would be more than just a coach — she has a caring, genuine personality.”
She said certain elements of softball and taekwondo have provided co-benefits for her daughter.
“Mackenzie began to train and never looked back. I believe taekwondo has instilled the work ethic and respect for others that has taken Mackenzie where she is today, whether she is on a pitching mound or at a taekwondo tournament.”
Borkovich also cites the discipline required by martial arts for contributing to her success on the pitcher’s mound.
“The competition aspect of TKD has helped me so much in softball because in tournaments I go up in front of a group of five masters and you have to keep your composure,” said Borkovich, who trains under grand master Young Bo Kong at her dojang in Aspinwall.
Borkovich finished her junior year with the Foxes with 252 strikeouts and helped lead the team to its first WPIAL semifinal and state playoff game.
Heckling from spectators during softball games is nothing new for Borkovich, and she recalled a game where a parent from the opposing team became unruly from the crowd.
“I was so focused on the game I never even knew,” Borkovich said. “Martial arts has helped me with focus. When I’m out there pitching, it’s just me and the catcher.”
Borkovich, who has been accepted into the honors program at Slippery Rock, maintains a 4.2 GPA at Fox Chapel. She’s a member of the global outreach, book and tapestry clubs and serves as student ambassador.
“I’m a bit of a perfectionist,” Borkovich said. “I really strive to do my best.”
Managing a severe allergy to pistachios, walnuts and cashews since childhood, Borkovich chose to educate the public about allergies for her Girl Scout Gold Award project.
She is collaborating with the high school nurse to create and implement a video on allergy awareness for students in grades 6-12.
“I think it’s really important for people to know about allergies and how to help somebody that has them,” Borkovich said.
